The highly anticipated Tel Aviv derby between fierce rivals Maccabi and Hapoel descended into chaos on Saturday evening, forcing match officials to abandon the contest after just 28 minutes of play.
Pitch Invasion Halts Fiery Contest
With Maccabi leading 1-0 thanks to Eran Zahavi's early penalty, the match took a dramatic turn when Hapoel supporters stormed the pitch in protest. The invasion came after Maccabi's Dor Peretz received only a yellow card for a challenge that visiting fans deemed worthy of a red.
As security struggled to restore order, the situation escalated dangerously when play resumed. Fireworks were launched from the stands toward players, creating unacceptable safety risks for both teams and officials.
Second Invasion Forces Final Decision
The match reached its breaking point when a second wave of Hapoel supporters breached security and charged onto the playing surface. With chaos unfolding and player safety compromised, referee Gal Leibovitz had no choice but to officially abandon the fixture.
"The game was stopped due to the invasion of the field by the guests' fans," confirmed a brief statement from the Israel Football Association, highlighting the severity of the disruptions.
Historical Context of the Rivalry
This isn't the first time violence has marred this bitter city rivalry. The derby has been frequently interrupted by crowd trouble over the years, though Saturday's complete abandonment represents one of the most significant disruptions in recent memory.
The incident raises serious questions about security measures at Israeli football matches and the growing concern over fan behaviour in the country's most passionate fixtures.
Football authorities now face mounting pressure to implement stricter sanctions and security protocols to prevent similar incidents from tarnishing future derby matches.
