Fans Sue Israeli Football Bodies for Refund After Tel Aviv Derby Cancellation

Two football fans have filed a civil lawsuit against key Israeli football organizations demanding full refunds for tickets they purchased for the Tel Aviv derby between Hapoel and Maccabi on October 19, 2025. The match, held at Bloomfield Stadium, was canceled minutes before kickoff due to fan violence involving flares thrown onto the pitch. Following a police assessment, the game was called off and approximately 25,000 spectators were evacuated for public safety.

The plaintiffs, an insurance agent/lawyer and a mechanical engineer, attended the match with their families and paid a total of 2,725 shekels for five tickets, including four premium seats in the stadium’s "Golden Block." According to the lawsuit, individual ticket prices were 105 shekels for one seat at gate 7/8 and 665 shekels each for the four seats in the prime viewing area. Despite requests, their demands for refunds were ignored or rejected with various excuses, which the plaintiffs claim were attempts to evade responsibility.

The lawsuit targets the ticketing office "Aan," Hapoel Tel Aviv as the host club, the Football League Administration, and the Israel Football Association. Citing consumer protection laws, the plaintiffs argue they received no service or product due to the police-ordered cancellation, which was beyond their control. Attorney Yaakov Oz, representing the plaintiffs, emphasized the defendants’ obligation to ensure consumers receive refunds when matches are canceled. The ticketing office responded that the matter is under review.