Football coach Haim Sirotkin sentenced to one year in prison for driving into government protestors

The court sentenced football coach and former player Haim Sirotkin today, Tuesday, to one year in prison for running over five people who were protesting against the government and calling for the release of the hostages in Tel Aviv in 2024.

The 54-year-old Sirotkin was arrested in April 2024 after driving into protesters in Tel Aviv. At the time of his arrest, Sirotkin was coaching Moadon Sport Tira, which was then in second place in the Northern Division of Liga Alef. Five people were injured in the incident, which took place during a demonstration calling for the release of hostages and early elections, and the driver was arrested by police.

An MDA team that arrived at the scene treated a pedestrian in her 50s who was moderately injured, along with others who sustained light injuries. During the investigation, Sirotkin said in his defense: "I was stressed by the situation and accidentally pressed the gas instead of the brake. I did not intend to run over or hurt the protesters."