Israeli Soccer Player's Transfer to Sevilla Scrapped Over Pro-Palestinian Backlash

Israeli footballer Tai Abed's potential transfer to Spanish club Sevilla was called off due to a hostile online reaction, according to his father, Kobi Abed. Abed, who recently joined Real Valladolid on loan from Levante, had multiple offers this summer, including from Sevilla and Valladolid. While financial terms with Sevilla were reportedly agreed upon, negotiations faltered over player usage clauses and Sevilla's reluctance to accept a clause allowing Levante to recall Abed in January.

Kobi Abed revealed that publicizing the potential transfer led to a wave of pro-Palestinian comments on social media directed at Tai and the family. This online backlash, which included threats on social media platforms and the club's website, prompted the family to reconsider the move. "To put Tai in a situation where the crowd doesn't want him to come and pro-Palestinian reactions caused us to take a step back and think twice if we want this," Kobi Abed stated.

Sevilla's failure to secure Abed's transfer was also attributed to a breakdown in financial negotiations with Levante and Sevilla's unwillingness to agree to a recall clause. The family ultimately chose Real Valladolid, who had been tracking Abed for two years and expressed strong interest in him. Valladolid's commitment to giving Abed significant playing time, including a clause guaranteeing him minutes, was a key factor in the decision.

Kobi Abed emphasized that the family prioritized Tai's development and playing time over financial considerations. He noted that the coaching staff and management at Valladolid, including the American owner, made the family feel welcome and confident about Abed's future there. Abed's move to Valladolid, a team often competing for promotion to Spain's top league, is seen as a good opportunity for him to prove himself in a competitive environment.