TEL AVIV: Police in Israel have called off a city derby between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv after riots broke out in and around the Bloomfield stadium. Fans were reported as throwing objects at officers and hurled flares and smoke bombs onto the pitch ahead of the game.

Police arrested five on suspicion of disturbing public order and detained 13 masked fans after they allegedly lit flares and threw them onto the soccer field. A total of 51 flares and smoke bombs were thrown onto the pitch.

The trouble came days after controversy over the visit of Maccabi to England to play Aston Villa in the UEFA Europa League on November 6. Their fans have been banned after West Midlands Police expressed concerns about public safety from potential protesters outside the stadium.

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