Israeli Sports Year Marked by Scandals, Violence, and Lack of Home Games

The past Hebrew year (5785) has presented Israeli sports with numerous reasons for frustration, extending beyond on-field results to include scandals, excuses, and unfulfilled promises. As the new year (5786) begins, a review highlights several key issues that have angered fans and observers.

One recurring issue involves the club Ironi Tiberias, which generated significant controversy with allegations of double contracts and banned infusions, leading to point deductions. Despite the noise, the club's football has been described as dismal, and the disputes with the Football Association resulted in minor penalties. The article suggests these situations are typical of Israeli football, characterized by much discussion but few consequences, with participants seemingly enjoying the legal battles more than the game itself.

In individual achievements, Gal Rabin, a standout player for Israel's U20 team, was controversially overlooked for the European Championship's Most Valuable Player award. Despite averaging impressive statistics comparable to top American player Caitlin Clark, the award went to France's Sarah Cissé, whose team defeated Israel in the final. The author questions the necessity of awarding the MVP to the losing finalist, suggesting the award should be renamed to reflect it's for the winning team's best player.

The Tel Aviv derby was marred by violence, with flares thrown onto the field and clashes between police and fans, leading to the match's postponement. This incident mirrors past occurrences, with promises of change and investigations yielding little substantive action to address the violence. The article criticizes the lack of genuine effort from clubs, the police's inability to prevent riots, and the fans' resulting experience of a "flare show" rather than football.

National teams have also faced criticism. The men's basketball team's failures were previously discussed, and the men's football team is set to begin a new World Cup qualifying campaign after a disappointing previous one. The team's performance, including a humiliating 5-0 loss to Norway, showed no progress. The article laments the lack of a "home" for Israeli sports since October 7th, with no international football matches held in Israel. While basketball teams briefly hosted games, smaller sports have normalized playing abroad. The situation has become permanent, with no serious discussions about returning to host games even when security is relatively stable. This is exemplified by Hapoel Be'er Sheva potentially hosting Juventus in Romania, a situation the author attributes to poor national management, as the issue has fallen off the public agenda.