Soccer league penalizes Tel Aviv rivals for on-field violence
Israeli Football Association deducts two league points from Maccabi and Hapoel clubs for game-ending brawl between fans
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The Israel Football Association on Tuesday penalized the two Tel Aviv soccer teams at the center of a violent clash between fans, deducting two league points for each team and ordering the shuttering of bleachers at the Tel Aviv stadium that is home to both clubs.
The association’s ruling came following an incident last Monday in which a shirtless fan attacked a player on the field at a match in Tel Aviv between the rival Hapoel and Maccabi teams, sparking a melee between spectators, stadium security and players, and ultimately forcing the game to a premature end.
The disciplinary court determined that the terminated match should be considered a 0:0 draw, but added that neither team would be awarded points for the tie. The two teams were further warned by the association that future violent incidents at the Tel Aviv stadium would result in an automatic deduction of three additional league points for the team playing, according to the Walla news site.
During last week’s crosstown rivalry game — or derby in soccer parlance — Hapoel Tel Aviv fan Elroy Yadi ran on to the pitch and began hitting Maccabi Tel Aviv player Eran Zahavi, who tried to defend himself against the assault until security personnel intervened.
Hapoel Tel Aviv’s management announced that it had permanently banned Yadi and called on police to prosecute him, Israel Radio reported.
On Tuesday, the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court announced that it would release Yadi to house arrest on Wednesday evening, the NRG website reported.
Twelve people were arrested following the on-field fracas, including Yadi and the son of Hadash MK Dov Khenin.
Last week’s scuffle began in the 33rd minute of the match between Hapoel and Maccabi, as the shirtless Hapoel fan Yadi ran onto the field and began hitting and kicking Zahavi.
The two men exchanged blows for several moments before security dragged the fan away.
The referee, acting according to the rules of the game that prohibit players from being involved in violence on the pitch, then issued Zahavi a red card, sparking a further outburst from players and fans.
As Zahavi argued the call, a number of fans ran onto the field and began exchanging blows, prompting officials to call off the game.
Adiv Sterman and Stuart Winer contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.