Israeli police said 42 people were injured, including five officers, during the clashes at Bloomfield Stadium, prompting an emergency evacuation and suspension of play over safety concerns.
According to police, a group of fans “arrived with the aim of disrupting order” and ignited dozens of flares and smoke bombs during the high-stakes league match. Authorities arrested dozens of people, 11 of whom were brought before a court, while others were released under restrictive conditions.
Video footage obtained by The Associated Press showed clouds of pink and grey smoke engulfing parts of the pitch as flares exploded, sending spectators scrambling for cover. One clip captured a smoking object landing in the stands as panic spread among fans.
In the aftermath, both clubs traded accusations over who was responsible for the unrest. Maccabi Tel Aviv said the match was cancelled because of “the flares thrown by opposing fans,” while Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the decision to abandon the game as “outrageous” and “hasty,” claiming most injuries were caused by police actions.
The violent scenes come amid growing concern over fan behavior in Israeli football and heightened tensions surrounding international fixtures.
Just days earlier, British authorities barred Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from traveling to the U.K. for a Europa League match against Aston Villa, citing security concerns — a decision criticized by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said fans should not be punished for political or security disputes.
This latest incident adds to a troubling pattern of football-related unrest involving Israeli teams. Earlier this year, a Maccabi Haifa vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv league match was abandoned at halftime after home fans threw flares at players.
In a separate episode last year, Israeli supporters were attacked in Amsterdam following a game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, leading to hospitalizations and dozens of arrests. The assaults were widely condemned across Europe as antisemitic.
The Israeli Football Association has not yet announced when or if the abandoned Tel Aviv derby will be replayed.