Soccer manager indicted for sexually assaulting teens

Hapoel Petah Tikva manager Ofer Tzabari was indicted Thursday morning at the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court for allegedly committing sexual offenses against three teens aged 15-17. He also stands accused of assaulting a police officer who tried to arrest him, of escaping from police custody and obstructing police officers from carrying out their duty.

In the indictment, a teen referred to by the initial A is quoted as saying during an interrogation: “I didn’t feel alright telling [Tzabari] ‘no’ because he takes care of me, so I said ‘OK.’ He took off my clothes, I was afraid so I kept quiet. I didn’t say anything.”

The indictment, filed through attorney Shira Leitersdorf-Shkedi, alleged that “the defendant is a known and influential figure in the world of soccer, who had access to the youth team and was recognized by the players as a ‘father figure’ who helps players of modest means.

“At different times the defendant committed sexual offenses against the youths, without their consent or with their consent by exploiting their dependence upon him,” the indictment continued.

The prosecution said that Tzabari had used the WhatsApp mobile messaging application and Facebook to strengthen his relations with the teens and “messaged them intensively, with some of the messages having a sexual or intimate nature.” The indictment described how he would first forge close relationships with the teens and then, having gained their trust, sexually assault them.

Tzabari allegedly gave money to his victims, and at other times bought shoes or other clothing items for them. He also took some of the teens on vacations to Eilat and allegedly let some of them drive his car.

One 15-year-old boy, referred to by the initial B, told the police: “I felt afraid to tell him to stop, a kind of freezing over. In all the incidents where I remember sexual acts, it went through my head to tell him to stop but I was afraid. I was afraid of his reaction, afraid of the consequences.” Bet’s mother told police that Tzabari had become one of the “dearest people” in her son’s life, but that the boy’s emotional state had gradually deteriorated until, in a moment of irritation, he said to her: “Mother, it turns out he’s not such a good guy.”