Referees’ chief says he expects a response after Ofer Yanay’s lawsuit

The head of the Israeli Referees Association, Asi Shalem, reacted sharply on Sport 5’s "5 Ba’Air" to a personal lawsuit filed by Ofer Yanay against referees, calling it part of a scandal shaking Israeli basketball. The dispute comes during the ongoing playoff final series between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv, Yanay’s team, and Shalem said the referees mainly want the season to end after what he described as a very difficult year.

Shalem rejected the allegations against referees, saying, "We are not corrupt, we do our work in the most professional and faithful way." He added that the association has a lot to say, but will present its case in court, and warned that "the other side may be surprised" by what it reveals. He said the group has received what he called baseless lawsuits and questioned why they were not filed after the series ended.

Shalem described the personal toll of the case, saying his daughter called him crying after reading online that her father was being sued for defamation because of his role. According to him, she asked whether this was the reward for the time, money, and family sacrifices involved in the job. Shalem said the call caused him deep disappointment, but told her they must keep believing in their integrity and continue fighting for their principles.

He said he would not back down and praised the referees as an exceptional professional group that deserves his support. He also claimed he anticipated this confrontation two years ago and said further developments are coming. Referring to a private investigator’s recording of Moshe Biton, which was mentioned in the lawsuit, Shalem said Biton apologized to Yanay and argued that if legal action was truly necessary, it could have waited until after the final rather than being filed on the eve of the series. He said the association will file its defense in 10 days, present its evidence, and then let the court decide.