League Chairman Vows Fines for Player Provocations

The chairman of the Israeli Football League, Erez Kalfon, announced a new policy of fining teams for any player provocation directed at opposing fans, following a recent incident involving Maccabi Tel Aviv player Osher Davida. Davida was fined 10,000 shekels for making a spraying gesture towards Hapoel Tel Aviv fans during a derby match. Kalfon stated that while past incidents were overlooked, this new policy aims to curb such behavior to prevent game disruptions and maintain the integrity of the sport.

Kalfon emphasized the high costs associated with security for sensitive matches like the Tel Aviv derby, which can reach one million shekels. He stressed that players should focus on their performance on the field and warned that any player approaching or taunting opposing fans could lead to game stoppages. "I have informed all the teams that we will define punishments. My job is to make the league function despite everything," Kalfon said, adding that a precedent has been set for fining players who provoke opponents.

Regarding crowd violence, Kalfon addressed the issue of fans throwing fireworks, which often leads to game delays. He expressed hope that the State Attorney's office would allow police to utilize facial recognition cameras to identify and ban offenders, thereby preventing disruptions and ensuring games are decided on the field. He also touched upon offensive chants and banners, noting that while these are serious issues, the league's authority is limited to fining clubs, with the state responsible for addressing fan conduct directly.

Kalfon reiterated the league's commitment to ensuring games are played fairly and that the focus remains on the players' actions on the pitch. The league will continue to monitor and penalize clubs based on reports from league observers regarding offensive fan behavior.