🔗 Share this article Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Called Off Following Serious Unrest The sports venue in Tel Aviv was filled with smoke ahead of the scheduled beginning Issued October 19, 2025 at 10:27 PM BST Modified moments ago The Israeli Premier League local clash involving Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned before the start on Sunday, due to what police characterized as "crowd trouble and serious disturbances". "Numerous of smoke devices and pyrotechnic devices were set off," authorities posted on online platforms, emphasizing "this isn't a sporting event, it constitutes chaos and significant aggression". Twelve individuals and multiple law enforcement members were hurt, police said, while multiple persons were detained and numerous others detained for questioning. The unrest happen just a short time after officials in the United Kingdom said that followers of the club should not be allowed to go to the international tournament match at Aston Villa in Britain next month because of security issues. Hapoel Tel Aviv censured the game abandonment, accusing authorities of "gearing up for a war, rather than a football match", including during discussions in the build-up to the highly-anticipated encounter. "The alarming events outside the venue and following the reckless and outrageous ruling to cancel the match only demonstrate that the Israel Police has assumed command over the football," Hapoel Tel Aviv stated officially. Their rivals has not yet commented, merely stating the match was cancelled. The judgment by security authorities to exclude club followers from the English fixture on the sixth of November has triggered extensive disapproval. The government officials has later announced it is attempting to reverse the ban and considering what extra measures might be necessary to make certain the match can be hosted safely. Villa informed their security personnel that they could choose not to participate at the fixture, saying they recognized that some "may have concerns". On earlier in the week, West Midlands Police confirmed it endorsed the restriction and designated the fixture as "concerning" according to intelligence and earlier occurrences. That included "serious fights and bigotry-related acts" between Ajax and their supporters before a fixture in Amsterdam in November 2024, when over sixty individuals were arrested. There have been protests at multiple sporting events over the situation in Gaza, such as when the national team played Norway and the European team in latest football World Cup qualifiers. Associated subjects Football More on this story Track your team with sports coverage Released recently Tune into current match analysis Obtain match information transmitted immediately to your smartphone Released Mid-August