'Dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were thrown,' Israeli police posted on X, stressing that 'this is not a football game, this is disorder and serious violence.'
Twelve civilians and three officers were reported injured by the police, with nine arrests made and 16 individuals detained for further questioning.
This outbreak of unrest comes shortly after British officials, citing safety concerns, stated that Maccabi fans would not be permitted to attend an upcoming Europa League match at Aston Villa.
In a strong reaction to the derby's cancellation, Hapoel Tel Aviv accused the Israeli police of 'preparing for a war, not a sporting event,' voicing their frustrations via a statement on X. Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv has yet to comment extensively, only confirming the match's cancellation.
The decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to prohibit Maccabi fans from the Aston Villa match has incited considerable criticism. The UK government is currently seeking to overturn this ban and is examining necessary measures to ensure the game's safety.
In light of prior violent incidents, West Midlands Police classified the upcoming fixture as 'high risk,' a stance supported by intelligence gathered surrounding similar past events, like the violent clashes during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match involving Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam.
Protests related to ongoing conflicts have recently been observed at various sporting events, including FIFA World Cup qualifiers involving Israel.
