Nir Klinger Says Armed Men Took Him to a Basement Meeting Over Avi Nimni

Israeli coach Nir Klinger says he came under intense pressure after releasing star player Avi Nimni in 2003, describing the episode as surreal. In a new interview, he said that after the farewell talk, the protests began and demands to bring Nimni back came from the highest levels, adding, "Even Bibi Netanyahu was involved." He said, "It was crazy," referring to the pressure surrounding the decision.

Klinger also claimed that armed men transported him to a meeting held in a basement, where a picture of Nimni was on the wall. He presented the account as part of the wider fallout from the 2003 split with the player, a dispute that apparently escalated beyond football circles.

The remarks were published on June 16, 2026, ahead of the full second part of "Asenheim Hosts" at 19:00 on Sport 5, on the 5SPORT channel. The article frames the story as an extraordinary behind-the-scenes episode from Israeli Premier League history.