Tel Aviv Derby Toto Cup Final Set to Be Most Secured Match in Israel's History
The upcoming Tel Aviv derby in the Toto Cup final at Bloomfield Stadium will be Israel's most heavily secured match, with security costs expected to reach a record 2 million NIS due to an even ticket split.
The upcoming Toto Cup final featuring a Tel Aviv derby at Bloomfield Stadium will be the most heavily secured match in Israel's history. Scheduled for October 29, the Israel Professional Football Leagues has been working on preparations for three weeks, with several weeks of planning still ahead.
The reason for the record-breaking security expenses is that, for the first time since the 2021 State Cup final, a Tel Aviv derby will be held at Bloomfield Stadium with an equal distribution of tickets for both fan bases, accompanied by exceptionally strict requirements and high costs.
Typically, when one team hosts, the visiting side receives only 3,000 tickets, allowing for a less intensive security operation. However, this Toto Cup derby will feature an even split, meaning 15,000 Hapoel Tel Aviv fans and 15,000 Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will pack the stadium.
This makes the fixture exceptionally volatile, especially in the wake of the previous derby and its surrounding events. Last year's Toto Cup final between Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv at Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa cost the league body 1.6 million NIS in security, but organizers expect this year's expenses to approach an unprecedented 2 million NIS, largely driven by security and public order measures.
