🔗 Share this article Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed Due to Violent Riots Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv was covered in smoke before the anticipated start Issued October 19, 2025 at 10:27 PM BST Updated 9 minutes ago The domestic football league local clash featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off ahead of the start on Sunday, due to what police characterized as "public disorder and violent riots". "Dozens of smoke devices and fireworks were thrown," law enforcement posted on digital channels, noting "this isn't a football game, it constitutes unrest and serious violence". Twelve people and several law enforcement members were injured, police said, while multiple persons were taken into custody and sixteen questioned by police. The unrest come just days after representatives in the UK stated that supporters of the team should not be allowed to be present at the international tournament fixture at Aston Villa in England the following month because of security issues. Hapoel Tel Aviv criticised the game abandonment, claiming Israeli police of "getting ready for a war, not a football match", including during discussions in the build-up to the much-expected fixture. "The shocking situations near the stadium and following the irresponsible and scandalous judgment to cancel the match only demonstrate that the Israel Police has taken control of the football," the club announced publicly. The other team has not yet commented, only acknowledging the game was called off. The decision by security authorities to exclude the team's supporters from the English fixture on the sixth of November has triggered extensive disapproval. The British authorities has subsequently stated it is working to overturn the restriction and exploring what further support might be necessary to make certain the match can be held without incident. Aston Villa notified their stadium staff that they were not required to attend at the game, explaining they understood that some "might feel uneasy". On earlier in the week, local authorities stated it supported the ban and categorized the fixture as "concerning" according to information and previous incidents. That included "serious fights and hate-crime offences" among the Dutch team and followers before a match in the Dutch capital in November 2024, when over sixty individuals were detained. There have been rallies at various games regarding the war in Gaza, for instance when Israel competed against the Scandinavian team and Italy in current qualification games. Associated subjects Soccer Further coverage Follow your club with sports coverage Released 2 days ago Hear the most recent sports show Receive sports updates delivered directly to your mobile device Issued August 16