The much anticipated Tel Aviv Derby was suspended prior to kickoff when fireworks were set off and flares were thrown from the Hapoel Tel Aviv stands onto the Bloomfield Stadium pitch just minutes before the players were to step onto the field of play. This prompted the local authorities to make an unprecedented decision to not allow the match to take place and send close to 30,000 fans home disappointed that the game would go on as scheduled.

The police put out a statement concerning not only the actions that took place just prior to the match but also other incidents that occurred throughout the day, “Disorderly conduct, riots, object throwing, smoke grenades, fireworks, injured police officers and damage to stadium infrastructure – this is not a football match, this is a serious public disturbance and violence.

In light of the disturbances and the endangerment of human lives ahead of the scheduled football match at Bloomfield Stadium, the Israel Police has informed the teams, team management, and referees that it has been decided not to allow the match to take place.

Emotions ran high as supporters from both Hapoel and Maccabi booed the decision as they eventually made their way towards the exits where more incidents between fans and police took place on the streets surrounding the stadium. In total over 30 fans were injured with 8 having to be treated at a hospital according to numerous media reports.

Hapoel Tel Aviv CEO Guy Primor spoke about the decision to not play the match, “The Israel Police made a unilateral decision to cancel the match. There was an amazing atmosphere—great visuals, families, 30,000 people. This isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last, that there are flares and smoke grenades at a football match. I just don’t understand how we got from that to canceling the match. It’s incomprehensible to me. Sports should be a top value. It just breaks my heart that so many people are going home for nothing, based on a unilateral decision. No one explained why, no one said anything, they just canceled the match before the players even came out.”

The club also put out an official statement, “From the preliminary discussions ahead of the match, it seemed the police were preparing for war, not a sporting event. The shocking events outside the stadium and the hasty and outrageous decision not to hold the match, only demonstrate that the Israel Police have taken over the sport.

“When we asked for real-time explanations, we were met with degrading and humiliating treatment, with no dialogue — the same treatment faced by representatives of the Football Association and the league administration, who also tried to overturn the absurd decision. When the district commander, Haim Sargrof, was asked to speak with League Chairman Erez Halfon and Football Association Chairman Shino Zuaretz, he refused and said his decision was final. He spoke of numerous injuries from pyrotechnics, but in reality, most of the injuries from the incident were actually caused by brutal police violence at the end of the match — a direct result of the outrageous decision to cancel the event.

“Everyone saw the disturbing videos: children trampled by horses, police officers beating fans indiscriminately. The police have taken over the sport and we call on the top figures in Israeli football to do everything in their power to put an end to this, or there will be no football left here. It goes without saying that the club’s management condemns all forms of violence and will fight lawbreakers, even if they wear uniforms.

Maccabi Tel Aviv CEO Ben Mansford also shared his thoughts, “There were over 40 fireworks and smoke bombs that were thrown on the pitch and the police were very clear that some hit the police and civilians and the head of the police who was in charge at the stadium was very clear that on that basis and that behavior that the game will not take place.

“We were looking forward to the Derby and it was going to be a great game of football. What has to happen now need to be real consequences that have to take place and this is the same as the Haifa game. There should be a technical victory to Maccabi 3-0. The only reason the game was called off was because of the actions of Hapoel fans, why Maccabi should face any possible downside or sanction or have to play the game again is just not right.”

The Israel Football Association and the Israel Professional Football League Administration did not comment on the decision to cancel the Tel Aviv Derby.