Haifa is preparing for the city derby between Maccabi and Hapoel, which will take place on Wednesday at Sami Ofer. The city does not remember such a rivalry between the teams’ fans outside the field, after the break-in to the equipment warehouse of the Maccabi Haifa organizations and the video of its burning. This video led to a chain of violent events between the two camps.
The police are afraid of clashes before and after the game and are on high alert and in higher numbers than in Maccabi Haifa matches against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
A total of 355 police officers will try to maintain order, not including bouncers and security guards who will arrive in double numbers. Also, eight dogs, 16 horsemen and two drones.
The police made a large advance preparation, including on the intelligence level, and we also held talks with the representatives of the clubs in order to calm the surface and prepare accordingly.
The police are working to ensure that all those removed from the two fan camps do not come to the game.
The police said: “We are making every effort for the game to pass peacefully. We are calling on the fans to come and enjoy the game and not to break the order. Of course, anyone who disturbs the order will be dealt with by the police, will be removed from the fields and will cause himself to lose the games.”