🔗 Share this article Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed Following Violent Riots Bloomfield Stadium in the city was filled with haze prior to the scheduled beginning Released 19 October 2025, 22:27 BST Revised nine minutes prior The Israeli Premier League local clash featuring one local team and their city rivals was called off before kick-off on Sunday, due to what police labeled as "crowd trouble and major clashes". "Numerous of smoke devices and fireworks were thrown," Israeli police announced on digital channels, noting "this isn't a match, this is chaos and major hostilities". A dozen civilians and three officers were harmed, officials confirmed, while nine people were arrested and sixteen questioned by police. The disturbances happen just a brief period after officials in the United Kingdom stated that followers of the club ought to be banned to attend the Europa League game at Aston Villa in England next month because of public safety worries. The local club condemned the derby cancellation, claiming law enforcement of "gearing up for a war, rather than a sporting event", including during meetings in the preparation to the eagerly-awaited fixture. "The shocking incidents outside the arena and following the ill-considered and outrageous ruling to cancel the fixture only prove that the authorities has assumed command over the football," the team stated officially. Maccabi Tel Aviv has remained silent, except to confirm the fixture was abandoned. The judgment by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to prohibit club followers from the Birmingham game on the sixth of November has provoked widespread criticism. The British authorities has later announced it is working to overturn the prohibition and exploring what additional resources might be required to make certain the fixture can be held without incident. The English club told their security personnel that they were not required to attend at the fixture, explaining they recognized that some "might feel uneasy". On Thursday, local authorities confirmed it backed the restriction and designated the game as "potentially dangerous" according to information and past events. That encompassed "serious fights and discrimination incidents" between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before a game in the Dutch capital in the previous year, when over sixty individuals were detained. There have been protests at various sporting events over the war in Gaza, including when the national team competed against Norway and the European team in latest international matches. Connected themes The sport Further coverage Support your side with match updates Published recently Listen to the latest sports show Get football news transmitted immediately to your smartphone Published Mid-August