Maccabi Haifa fans brawl with police in Netanya, 4 arrested
Soccer team’s supporters suspected of injuring 6 cops, as hooligans throw glass bottles, fencing and smoke bombs at law enforcement
Fans of the Maccabi Haifa soccer team scrapped with police outside a stadium in Netanya, following a Premier League match Monday, leaving six cops injured.
Four people were arrested over suspicions they attacked officers, police said.
The brouhaha started when a security guard spotted a fan standing on a railing in the bleachers and apparently ordered them down.
The fan refused to follow the instructions, instead attacking the guard attacked the guard and threw a chair at a police officer, injuring his head, according to police.
Following the fan’s arrest, hundreds of Maccabi Haifa supporters started rioting outside the stadium, police said.
Supporters of the top-ranked team, which beat Netanya 2-0, blocked traffic and threw glass bottles, fences and smoke bombs at officers.
Police, including horse-mounted officers, eventually managed to disperse the group.
The four arrested fans were taken for questioning and police said they may arrest further suspects.
תיעוד נוסף מהעימותים מחוץ למשחק בנתניה: אוהדי חיפה טוענים לאלימות משטרתית ושימוש לא פרופורציונלי ברימוני הלם • המשטרה: 6 שוטרים נפצעו, 4 אוהדים נעצרו | לידיעה המלאה >>> https://t.co/NN1e0GlWHQ@lianwildau pic.twitter.com/odgpZABMWE
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“We take very seriously attacks on officers and violence on sports grounds by those who try to turn a cultural sports event into a battle zone and will use the full extent of the law against those involved,” police said.
Maccabi Haifa reached Europe’s Champions League group stage earlier this year, and beat Italy’s Juventus, but was pummeled by Paris Saint-Germain and Benefica, knocking it out of the competition.
In February, police officers were accused of attacking fans at a game in Haifa between Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv, prompting condemnation of law enforcement from government ministers.
