Ohr Davida's Bitter Feud With His Former Club Hapoel Tel Aviv Explained

The complex and often acrimonious relationship between Israeli footballer Ohr Davida and his boyhood club, Hapoel Tel Aviv, has been laid bare, revealing a history of mutual animosity stemming from his transfer to rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv. Davida, who rose through Hapoel's youth ranks and was expected to become a star for the senior team, instead found himself at the center of taunts and curses from the club's fans after his move.

According to sources close to Davida, including his wife, the transfer to Maccabi Tel Aviv was difficult due to intense verbal abuse and death wishes directed at both him and his wife from Hapoel fans. This hostility, they claim, fueled Davida's own provocative behavior towards his former club. Davida himself has been documented taunting Hapoel fans, most notably celebrating their relegation from the top league after a match against Maccabi Haifa. A viral video also showed him singing a derogatory song about Hapoel at his own wedding.

The tension has also spilled onto the field. Last year, Davida was sent off after kicking Doron Leidner, a former youth teammate, during a match. His relationships with current Hapoel players are reportedly strained, impacting past friendships. Former player Gili Vermut, who made a similar transfer, expressed disapproval of Davida's taunting behavior, stating he never provoked opposing fans during his career.

Davida's recent performance, where he celebrated a goal by gesturing towards Hapoel fans, was explained by him as a reaction to the curses he received, though he publicly downplayed it as a general provocation. He confided in friends that the celebration was partly a response to the abuse, finding satisfaction in retaliating in his own way. This ongoing saga between Davida and Hapoel Tel Aviv is far from over.