Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed Following Major Disturbances

• Released
  22:27 BST on October 19, 2025

The Israeli Premier League derby featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned before kick-off on Sunday, due to what law enforcement characterized as "public disorder and major clashes".

"Numerous of smoke bombs and flares were set off," authorities posted on digital channels, noting "this cannot be considered a match, this is chaos and serious violence".

A dozen people and multiple police personnel were hurt, police said, while nine people were arrested and numerous others held for interrogation.

The clashes happen just a short time after representatives in the Britain stated that supporters of the team should not be allowed to attend the European competition game at the English club in Britain next month because of public safety worries.

Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the derby cancellation, accusing Israeli police of "getting ready for a battle, instead of a game", including during talks in the preparation to the highly-anticipated fixture.

"The alarming events around the venue and following the ill-considered and unacceptable judgment to cancel the game only demonstrate that the authorities 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 judgment by the local safety committee to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the English fixture on 6 November has provoked widespread criticism.

The British authorities has subsequently stated it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and investigating what further support might be required to ensure the match can be hosted safely.

The English club notified their security personnel that they were not required to attend at the game, saying they understood that some "may have concerns".

On earlier in the week, law enforcement confirmed it supported the prohibition and designated the match as "potentially dangerous" based on information and earlier occurrences.

That involved "physical confrontations and hate-crime offences" between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of a game in Amsterdam in November 2024, when over sixty individuals were arrested.

There have been demonstrations at several athletic competitions concerning the conflict in Gaza, such as when the national team played Norway and Italy in recent qualification games.

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