Tel Aviv Derby Match Cancelled After Riots
Violent scenes outside Bloomfield Stadium forced the cancellation of the highly anticipated Tel Aviv football derby between Hapoel and Maccabi Tel Aviv on Sunday, after what police described as “public disorder and violent riots.” The match, which was supposed to be a Premier League showdown between two of Israel’s fiercest rivals, was abandoned before kick-off due to chaos in and around the stadium.
According to Israeli police, “dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were thrown,” and they posted on social media: “This is not a football game, this is disorder and serious violence.” In total, 12 civilians and 3 officers were injured. Nine people were arrested, and 16 others detained for questioning.
Hapoel Blames the Police
While the police cited safety concerns, Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club issued a scathing response, accusing law enforcement of escalating the situation. “From the preliminary discussions prior to the match, it appears that the police were preparing for war rather than a sporting event,” the club said.
They added that “most of the injuries from the event were caused by brutal police violence at the end of the game, as a direct result of the scandalous decision to cancel the event,” and claimed “everyone saw the disturbing videos of children being trampled by horses and police officers indiscriminately beating fans.”
The Israeli police have not responded to those specific allegations.
Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv issued a brief statement confirming the game was off: “Following the police's decision, it was determined that the Tel Aviv derby will not take place tonight.”
UK Ban on Maccabi Fans Sparks Debate
The derby chaos comes just days after Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned from attending their Europa League match at Aston Villa in Birmingham on November 6th. The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) in Birmingham, which includes local police and council officials, classified the game as “high risk” based on past incidents — notably during Maccabi’s match against Ajax in Amsterdam earlier this year during the 2024 Uefa Europa League, which ended in over 60 arrests.
This decision has drawn heavy criticism. The UK government has said it’s working to overturn the ban, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband insisting fans of both teams should be able to attend. Aston in Birmingham cannot become a “no-go area” for Jews, Miliband said.
He was reacting to a petition launched by Independent MP Ayoub Khan calling for Maccabi fan to be banned from the match, which warned of “tensions within the community” due to the match being held in a “diverse and predominantly Muslim” area.
Khan defended the petition, saying it was about “public safety and community cohesion,” and stressed it did not target any religion or ethnicity.
What’s Next?
The UK government is now waiting on a security plan from West Midlands Police — expected early next week — to determine whether the game can proceed with both sets of fans in attendance.
Back in Israel, the fallout from the Tel Aviv derby may not be over. While no new date has been set for the match, the controversy around police conduct and football violence is likely to continue. For Maccabi, the pressure is on — both at home and abroad — and tensions surrounding the club’s fanbase show no sign of easing.
