Israeli fan badly injured by firework at Tel Aviv derby

An Israeli fan was seriously injured by a firecracker before Saturday's Tel Aviv derby match between Maccabi and Hapoel, a police official said.

"He is in hospital and his condition is critical," police spokeswoman Shlomit Holtzberg told Reuters.

A spokeswoman for Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital told reporters the fan had undergone an operation for serious head injuries.

The supporter, thought to be a male Hapoel fan, was injured by the explosive device before the premier league match.

Maccabi won the high-profile clash 3-0 at the National Stadium in stormy weather conditions before an 18,000-strong crowd.

The Tel Aviv derby has always been a hot spot for trouble between rival supporters of Hapoel and Maccabi, although serious violent incidents are rare in Israeli soccer.