Hapoel Tel Aviv Owner Criticizes Referees After Derby Loss

Following a significant loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Super Cup, Hapoel Tel Aviv owner Ofer Y anai addressed his players in the locker room, expressing his disappointment not only with the defeat but also with the officiating. Yanai stated that he believes the referees were unfair and illogical during the game, specifically mentioning that player Kadim Carrington did not receive calls he would have gotten previously and that other players like Zach LeDay and Vasilije Micić were not respected by the referees. He acknowledged that playing against Maccabi often involves biased officiating but urged his team to maintain focus and energy regardless.

Y anai used the loss as a learning opportunity, referencing past defeats to Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the previous season. He explained that the loss to Real Madrid taught them the importance of building a team with two equally strong starting fives, while the loss to Maccabi, who he noted had only one Israeli player, highlighted the need for naturalized players. He emphasized that losses should serve as fuel for improvement and learning.

Despite the perceived unfairness from the referees, Yanai stressed that he expects his players to channel their energy and not lose concentration. He noted that while he would accept a loss even with fair officiating, he felt the team lost their composure and spirit during the game. Yanai concluded by expressing his hope that the players share his hatred of losing and will use the pain of this defeat to transform their performance in future games.