Israeli Police Arrest Three in Women's Soccer Match-Fixing Scandal

Israeli police announced the arrest of three individuals, including two former male players and one former female player, suspected of operating a match-fixing and betting ring within the women's top soccer league. The arrests come just before the start of the 2026-2027 season.

According to police, the suspects allegedly ran an organized and systematic betting mechanism aimed at influencing game outcomes for financial gain. The investigation is examining the scope of the operation, the identities of all involved, the methods used to fix matches, and the amounts of money exchanged.

A senior official from one of the women's league teams told Sport 5 that the scheme has been ongoing for at least four years. He described instances where a team, despite being sold approximately 13 games, was relegated, and noted that players involved in selling matches continue to play. "There are players who sold games and are still playing, that's the shame," he stated, adding that "unreasonable results" were visible in games, indicating manipulation.

The arrested individuals were brought in for questioning at the Lahav 433 unit, a special investigations division of the Israel Police. The investigation is ongoing.