Police shut down Hapoel Tel Aviv court following fan attack

JERUSALEM, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Israeli police on Monday issued an administrative closure order to the Shlomo Group Arena, the home venue of Hapoel Tel Aviv, currently ranked second in the Israeli Basketball Super League.

The one-month order was issued following a serious case of violence in the northern Tel Aviv arena on Saturday night, after the league game in which Tel Aviv surprisingly lost to Hapoel Haifa 88-87.

In the incident, several Tel Aviv fans attacked two Haifa fans with plastic chairs, belts, cheer drums and rods. One of the attacked fans was kicked and beaten with a drumstick on his face while lying on the court floor and was rushed to hospital for treatment.

The day after the incident, police announced that they had arrested two of the attackers.

Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, said in a statement that "a fan was almost murdered just for his support for another team. Closing the hall sends a clear message, according to which anyone violent in the courts will find a determined police against him."

Following the incident, Hapoel Haifa demanded the league be suspended "until solutions are found regarding the security of the players, staff and fans and the immediate eradication of hooliganism that destroys basketball."

Hapoel Tel Aviv announced several measures following the incident, including preventing violent fans from entering games, filing lawsuits against them, and replacing their security company.