League Chairman Vows Fines for Player Provocations

The chairman of the Israeli Football League, Erez Kalfon, announced a new policy of fining teams for player provocations towards 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 supporters 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 ensure football is decided on the field.

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 game and not engage with opposing fans, warning that any player approaching or provoking rivals could lead to game stoppages. He has informed all clubs about the impending penalties and is committed to enforcing fines for any action deemed provocative.

The league chairman also addressed broader issues of fan violence, including the throwing of flares and offensive chants. While acknowledging the severity of Holocaust-related chants, Kalfon clarified that the league's authority to fine extends only to players and team officials, not directly to fans. He expressed hope that facial recognition cameras would be implemented by police to identify and ban problematic individuals from stadiums, thereby protecting the integrity of the sport.

Kalfon reiterated the league's commitment to ensuring matches are decided by performance on the pitch, not by fan or player misconduct. He noted that league observers report offensive chants and signs, leading to team punishments, but the responsibility for directly penalizing fans lies with the state authorities.