A police ban on the Israeli Premier League's Tel Aviv football derby triggered anger from teams and political critics.
Sunday's football match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv was canceled due to "public disorder and violent riots," Israel Police said.
Hapoel, however, blamed the chaos on law enforcement.
"From the preliminary discussions before the game, it seemed that the police were preparing for a war rather than a sports event," the club said in a statement published on social media.
"Everyone saw the harsh videos, children trampled by horses, police officers beating fans indiscriminately," it added.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid also seized on the incident to criticize Israel's far-right interior minister.
"To the endless list of failures of the incompetent minister Itamar Ben Gvir, tonight was added the inability to facilitate a soccer game in the State of Israel," Lapid posted on social media.
Maccabi Tel Aviv was less outspoken. The club's supporters were already barred from a Europa League match against Aston Villa next month in the United Kingdom after British police expressed concerns about potential protests outside the stadium.
The UK government is trying to reverse the ban, which has been criticized by Israeli ministers, the UEFA football governing body and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
