Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Cancelled After Serious Unrest

• Issued
  October 19, 2025 at 10:27 PM BST

The domestic football league local clash involving Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled ahead of kick-off on the weekend, due to what law enforcement labeled as "public disorder and major clashes".

"Dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were set off," law enforcement posted on online platforms, adding "this is not a sporting event, it represents unrest and significant aggression".

A dozen individuals and three law enforcement members were hurt, officials confirmed, while multiple persons were taken into custody and sixteen held for interrogation.

The disturbances come just a short time after authorities in the Britain stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should not be allowed to be present at the Europa League match at Aston Villa in the UK next month because of safety concerns.

Hapoel Tel Aviv criticised the game abandonment, accusing Israeli police of "preparing for a battle, not a sporting event", even during discussions in the lead-up to the eagerly-awaited encounter.

"The disturbing events near the arena and after the reckless and unacceptable judgment not to hold the match only show that the Israel Police has assumed command over the sport," the club announced publicly.

Their rivals has not yet commented, merely stating the fixture was abandoned.

The ruling by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Birmingham game on the sixth of November has sparked widespread criticism.

The UK government has since said it is working to overturn the ban and considering what further support might be needed to ensure the fixture can be hosted safely.

Villa notified their matchday stewards that they could choose not to participate at the game, saying they recognized that some "might feel uneasy".

On the previous day, local authorities confirmed it supported the prohibition and designated the match as "concerning" based on reports and past events.

That involved "serious fights and discrimination incidents" between the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of a match in the Netherlands in November 2024, when more than 60 people were taken into custody.

There have been protests at several games over the situation in Gaza, including when the national team competed against Norway and Italy in current football World Cup qualifiers.

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