5 Maccabi Tel Aviv fans arrested for rock throwing at Bnei Sakhnin soccer match; fireworks thrown on pitch

29 September 2025, 3:51 am

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Violence erupted at a soccer match in the Arab town of Sakhnin, as five fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv were arrested on suspicion of throwing rocks, police say.

The rock-throwing followed unrest during the game between Maccabi and Bnei Sakhnin, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Fireworks were repeatedly thrown on the pitch during the game, with one coming close to Maccabi’s goalkeeper, Hebrew media report.

“A number of fans disturbed public order and began throwing rocks at cars,” police say in a statement, according to Hebrew media. “Officers of the northern district who had positioned themselves ahead of time around the stadium identified several suspects in the act, and arrested five.”

Bnei Sakhnin said in a statement that Maccabi fans had been allowed to leave the stadium via an exit that placed them in proximity to the home team’s fans and their cars, leading to the clashes.