Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Called Off After Major Disturbances

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

The Israeli Premier League local clash involving one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off prior to kick-off on the weekend, due to what authorities described as "civil unrest and violent riots".

"Numerous of smoke bombs and flares were set off," authorities stated on online platforms, noting "this isn't a football game, this is chaos and serious violence".

A dozen individuals and several officers were harmed, police said, while several individuals were taken into custody and sixteen detained for questioning.

The unrest happen just a brief period after representatives in the UK said that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans cannot be permitted to go to the European competition game at Aston Villa in the UK in November because of safety concerns.

One team censured the match postponement, claiming authorities of "preparing for a war, not a sporting event", including during talks in the build-up to the highly-anticipated fixture.

"The shocking events near the venue and after the irresponsible and outrageous judgment not to hold the game only prove that the Israel Police has taken control of the sport," the team stated officially.

Their rivals has not yet commented, except to confirm the match was cancelled.

The ruling by the local safety committee to prohibit the team's supporters from the Aston Villa match on the sixth of November has sparked broad condemnation.

The UK government has subsequently stated it is attempting to reverse the restriction and considering what additional resources might be required to guarantee the match can be held without incident.

Villa informed their matchday stewards that they were not required to attend at the game, explaining they acknowledged that some "could be worried".

On the previous day, local authorities stated it endorsed the ban and designated the match as "potentially dangerous" due to reports and past events.

That involved "serious fights and discrimination incidents" between the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of a fixture in the Netherlands in the previous year, when over sixty individuals were taken into custody.

There have been demonstrations at multiple athletic competitions concerning the war in Gaza, including when the national team played Norway and Italy in current qualification games.

Connected themes

• The sport

More on this story

• Track your team with match updates

  • Published
    48 hours prior

• Listen to the latest football podcast

• Receive sports updates transmitted immediately to your mobile device

  • Issued
    16 August