đź”— Share this article Tel Aviv Derby Called Off Following Serious Unrest The sports venue in the city was engulfed by smoke before the planned start Released October 19, 2025 at 10:27 PM BST Updated 9 minutes ago The domestic football league derby featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled ahead of commencement on the weekend, after what authorities described as "civil unrest and violent riots". "Many of smoke grenades and fireworks were set off," authorities posted on digital channels, adding "this cannot be considered a sporting event, it represents disorder and major hostilities". A dozen people and three officers were injured, officials confirmed, while multiple persons were arrested and numerous others held for interrogation. The disturbances come just a short time after officials in the UK said that supporters of the team cannot be permitted to go to the European competition game at Aston Villa in the UK the following month because of safety concerns. One team condemned the derby cancellation, accusing Israeli police of "getting ready for a war, rather than a sporting event", particularly during meetings in the preparation to the eagerly-awaited match. "The shocking situations around the venue and following the reckless and scandalous decision to cancel the game only show that the Israel Police has seized authority in the football," the team stated officially. Maccabi Tel Aviv has not yet commented, merely stating the fixture was abandoned. The ruling by security authorities to exclude club followers from the Birmingham game on November 6 has provoked extensive disapproval. The government officials has subsequently stated it is attempting to reverse the restriction and considering what additional resources might be necessary to make certain the game can be conducted securely. The English club informed their matchday stewards that they were not required to attend at the game, saying they acknowledged that some "may have concerns". On the previous day, local authorities confirmed it backed the restriction and categorized the game as "concerning" due to reports and previous incidents. That encompassed "serious fights and bigotry-related acts" involving the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of a game in the Dutch capital in late 2024, when more than 60 people were taken into custody. There have been rallies at several athletic competitions over the war in Gaza, including when Israel played Norway and the European team in recent international matches. Related topics The sport Additional reports Follow your club with game reports Released recently Listen to the latest match analysis Obtain match information delivered directly to your smartphone Issued August 16