Maccabi Tel Aviv captured the Israeli Basketball Championship yesterday (Monday), but the 74-82 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv in the decisive third game was overshadowed by scenes of violence and riots involving the clubs' fans.
As reported by Kann News, chaos erupted both outside and inside the Menora Mivtachim Arena, as fan groups clashed with police and each other throughout the night. The game itself was halted twice after Hapoel supporters lit flares inside the hall, while Maccabi fans rained objects down towards the opposing team's bench.
On the court, Roman Sorkin led Maccabi with 19 points and 9 rebounds, while Hassiel Rivero added 16 points in the winning effort. Tyler Ennis topped the scoring for Hapoel with 17 points in the losing cause.
Prior to tip-off, scores of Hapoel supporters refused to enter the arena after being prohibited from bringing in certain fan paraphernalia and materials. They blocked the gates, clashing with mounted police officers trying to clear the entrances.
Ayalon District Police Commander Haim Boublil explains that Hapoel fans were attacked by Maccabi fans and called the police 'Holocaust police' and 'Nazis' so "we decided to disperse them."
After tense negotiations, a compromise was reached allowing fans from both teams to bring in approved paraphernalia and enter through reinforced security checkpoints. However, a segment of Hapoel's hardcore "ultras" still refused to take their seats in protest.
Boubli decried the "violent and extreme behavior," adding that, "We would like to avoid such incidents but we have a responsibility for public safety."
Maccabi supporters demanded the game be called off entirely and their team awarded a technical victory. But play ultimately continued despite the tenuous security situation.
In the aftermath, Hapoel owner Ofer Ninai blasted the police response, claiming "An injustice was done to the fans, to the sport and to me...horse-mounted police charged children singing outside the arena."
With fans of both teams contributing to the mayhem, authorities pledged a full investigation into the deplorable behavior that nearly caused the final to be abandoned.
Instead, it was the underdog Maccabi squad celebrating an improbable title triumph amid the chaos - a championship victory tarnished by fan violence that nearly caused the contest to spiral out of control.