đź”— Share this article Tel Aviv Derby Called Off Due to Major Disturbances Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv was filled with haze prior to the anticipated start Issued 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 abandoned before the start on Sunday, after what authorities characterized as "crowd trouble and serious disturbances". "Many of smoke bombs and pyrotechnic devices were thrown," authorities posted on online platforms, adding "this cannot be considered a sporting event, it represents disorder and significant aggression". Twelve individuals and several police personnel were hurt, officials confirmed, while several individuals were arrested and numerous others questioned by police. The unrest occur just a short time after officials in the UK said that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans cannot be permitted to be present at the international tournament fixture at the Birmingham team in the UK next month because of public safety worries. Hapoel Tel Aviv censured the game abandonment, claiming authorities of "preparing for a war, instead of a game", even during discussions in the lead-up to the much-expected match. "The disturbing situations around the venue and due to the ill-considered and unacceptable decision to cancel the match only show that the law enforcement has taken control of the game," the team said in a statement. Their rivals has declined to speak, except to confirm the game was called off. The decision by the local safety committee to exclude club followers from the English fixture on November 6 has sparked widespread criticism. The British authorities has since said it is working to overturn the restriction and exploring what extra measures might be required to make certain the game can be conducted securely. The English club informed their security personnel that they did not have to work at the match, explaining they understood that some "could be worried". On Thursday, law enforcement said it backed the ban and designated the fixture as "potentially dangerous" based on reports and past events. That encompassed "violent clashes and discrimination incidents" involving the Dutch team and followers prior to a game in Amsterdam in late 2024, when numerous persons were taken into custody. There have been protests at various games concerning the conflict in Gaza, for instance when Israel competed against Norway and the European team in recent football World Cup qualifiers. Associated subjects Football Further coverage Track your team with game reports Released recently Listen to the latest football podcast Obtain match information delivered directly to your phone Published August 16