🔗 Share this article Tel Aviv Derby Cancelled Due to Violent Riots The sports venue in Tel Aviv was engulfed by smoke ahead of the anticipated kick-off Issued 22:27 BST on October 19, 2025 Updated 9 minutes ago The Israeli Premier League derby featuring one local team and their city rivals was abandoned before commencement on Sunday, following what authorities characterized as "crowd trouble and serious disturbances". "Numerous of smoke bombs and fireworks were set off," authorities announced on online platforms, noting "this is not a sporting event, it represents disorder and serious violence". Twelve civilians and multiple police personnel were injured, authorities reported, while nine people were arrested and sixteen held for interrogation. The unrest come just a brief period after authorities in the UK stated that supporters of the team ought to be banned to attend the Europa League fixture at the Birmingham team in the UK the following month because of public safety worries. The local club condemned the match postponement, claiming law enforcement of "getting ready for a battle, not a sporting event", even during meetings in the lead-up to the highly-anticipated match. "The disturbing incidents near the stadium and following the reckless and unacceptable judgment to abandon the match only demonstrate that the law enforcement has taken control of the sport," the team stated officially. Their rivals has not yet commented, merely stating the game was called off. The decision by the local safety committee to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Birmingham game on November 6 has sparked widespread criticism. The government officials has subsequently stated it is working to overturn the prohibition and considering what extra measures might be required to ensure the fixture can be held without incident. Aston Villa notified their matchday stewards that they did not have to work at the game, explaining they acknowledged that some "might feel uneasy". On earlier in the week, West Midlands Police confirmed it endorsed the restriction and classified the match as "high risk" due to reports and earlier occurrences. That involved "violent clashes and discrimination incidents" among the Dutch team and their supporters prior to a game in Amsterdam in the previous year, when numerous persons were taken into custody. There have been protests at multiple athletic competitions concerning the situation in Gaza, including when Israel faced Norway and Italy in recent football World Cup qualifiers. Related topics Soccer Additional reports Track your team with match updates Published 2 days ago Tune into current match analysis Receive sports updates delivered directly to your phone Issued Mid-August