Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Called Off After Major Disturbances

• Released
  22:27 BST on October 19, 2025

The domestic football league local clash involving one local team and their city rivals was called off before the start on Sunday, after what police labeled as "public disorder and violent riots".

"Many of smoke devices and flares were launched," Israeli police announced on digital channels, adding "this is not a football game, it constitutes unrest and major hostilities".

A dozen individuals and multiple officers were injured, officials confirmed, while several individuals were detained and numerous others detained for questioning.

The clashes come just a short time after authorities in the Britain said that supporters of the team cannot be permitted to be present at the European competition fixture at the Birmingham team in the UK next month because of security issues.

The local club condemned the game abandonment, alleging Israeli police of "preparing for a war, instead of a sporting event", even during meetings in the preparation to the eagerly-awaited encounter.

"The disturbing situations near the venue and following the reckless and unacceptable ruling not to hold the game only demonstrate that the Israel Police has assumed command over the sport," the club said in a statement.

The other team has remained silent, merely stating the game was called off.

The decision by the local safety committee to ban club followers from the Birmingham game on the sixth of November has triggered broad condemnation.

The British authorities has later announced it is attempting to reverse the restriction and exploring what additional resources might be required to ensure the game can be hosted safely.

Aston Villa notified their stadium staff that they could choose not to participate at the match, stating they recognized that some "may have concerns".

On earlier in the week, local authorities said it supported the ban and classified the game as "high risk" based on intelligence and earlier occurrences.

That included "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" between the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of a fixture in Amsterdam in November 2024, when more than 60 people were arrested.

There have been protests at several games regarding the conflict in Gaza, for instance when Israel faced Norway and Italy in recent international matches.

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