Tel Aviv Derby Postponed Due to Major Disturbances

• Issued
  22:27 BST on October 19, 2025

The domestic football league rivalry match between one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled ahead of commencement on the weekend, after what police labeled as "civil unrest and violent riots".

"Many of smoke devices and flares were launched," authorities stated on digital channels, noting "this cannot be considered a football game, it represents unrest and major hostilities".

Twelve people and three law enforcement members were hurt, authorities reported, while nine people were detained and 16 questioned by police.

The clashes come just a short time after authorities in the United Kingdom said that followers of the club ought to be banned to be present at the international tournament game at the Birmingham team in Britain the following month because of safety concerns.

Hapoel Tel Aviv censured the game abandonment, claiming Israeli police of "preparing for a conflict, instead of a sporting event", even during discussions in the build-up to the much-expected match.

"The disturbing situations near the arena and after the ill-considered and scandalous ruling to abandon the match only show that the authorities has assumed command over the game," Hapoel Tel Aviv announced publicly.

Their rivals has remained silent, merely stating the game was called off.

The ruling by the local safety committee to exclude the team's supporters from the English fixture on the sixth of November has provoked widespread criticism.

The British authorities has later announced it is attempting to reverse the restriction and exploring what extra measures might be necessary to make certain the fixture can be held without incident.

The English club notified their security personnel that they could choose not to participate at the fixture, saying they acknowledged that some "could be worried".

On Thursday, West Midlands Police stated it endorsed the restriction and designated the game as "potentially dangerous" based on information and previous incidents.

That included "serious fights and hate-crime offences" among the Dutch team and followers before a fixture in the Netherlands in November 2024, when over sixty individuals were arrested.

There have been rallies at various sporting events over the war in Gaza, such as when the national team played the Scandinavian team and Italy in recent international matches.

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