Long Stoppages Become Tradition in Tel Aviv Derby Matches
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
The Tel Aviv derby between Maccabi and Hapoel was delayed by nine minutes due to flares, extending stoppage time and continuing a trend of reduced playing time in these matches. Recent derbies have averaged only 46.57% actual play, significantly below the league average. This pattern has led to multiple instances of 10-15 minutes of added time in past games.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Tel Aviv derby delayed 9 minutes by flares, continuing a trend of long stoppages.
- Recent derbies average only 46.57% actual playing time, below league average.
- Extended stoppage time, including 15 minutes in one past derby, is becoming common.
- A Toto Cup final saw 9 minutes of added time after an 8.5-minute delay.
- One derby in October 2025 was canceled entirely due to flare incidents.
The recent Tel Aviv derby between Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv was significantly delayed due to the lighting of flares, leading to extended stoppage time. The match was halted for nine minutes because of the pyrotechnics, a continuation of a trend seen in recent derby games.
An analysis of data from 365Scores and Opta reveals that in recent Israeli Premier League derbies, the actual playing time averaged only 46.57% of the total match duration. This is considerably less than the league average of 52% playing time. In 2026, the average playing time was even lower.
These prolonged delays have resulted in substantial added time. One derby saw a 15-minute stoppage time, and another had ten minutes added. In the Toto Cup final between the same teams, the game was stopped for eight and a half minutes, leading to nine minutes of added time and a total of 54 minutes of gross playing time for the half.
Previous derby matches have also experienced lengthy stoppages and added time. For instance, the first half of a September 2026 derby lasted 55 minutes and 57 seconds gross, with only 25 minutes and 52 seconds of actual play. Similarly, a May 2026 derby had a 50-minute gross first half with 21 minutes and 32 seconds of play. An April 2026 derby saw 52 minutes and 4 seconds gross with 25 minutes and 14 seconds played, and a January 2026 derby lasted 60 minutes and 8 seconds gross with 25 minutes and 1 second played. Notably, a derby in October 2025 was not played at all due to flare incidents, and a January 2024 derby had 51 minutes and 58 seconds gross with 28 minutes and 10 seconds played.
