Hapoel Be'er Sheva Owner Slams Football Association Official

Alona Barkat, owner of Hapoel Be'er Sheva football club, has launched a strong attack against Moran Meiri, the deputy chairman of the Israel Football Association and legal advisor for Maccabi Tel Aviv. Barkat accused Meiri of a conflict of interest, citing his dual roles and comments he made in podcasts.

Barkat shared clips from Meiri's podcast appearances, urging him to resign. She argued that a representative of a club cannot simultaneously serve as chairman or deputy chairman of the football association, especially when that individual acknowledges serving the public that elected them. Barkat quoted Meiri saying, "So for a moment you are not a representative of Maccabi Tel Aviv, and immediately afterward you admit that you 'serve the same public that sent you.' He who disqualifies with his flaw disqualifies."

In one podcast segment, Meiri discussed his ability to influence outcomes and admitted it's possible he serves Maccabi Tel Aviv's interests, stating, "So that's how it should be, you serve the same public that sent you." He also mentioned that most major clubs supported his initiative, except for Be'er Sheva, which he described as the leader of the opposing faction.

Meiri further elaborated on his disagreements with Be'er Sheva regarding access to gatekeepers, courts, judges, and national teams. He advocated for sterile processes, proposing that any board member contacting the chairman of the referees' association or a prosecutor should face disciplinary action themselves. Meiri lamented that actions occurring in football are less than state-like and resemble other fields, suggesting this is related to sports rivalry and a broader worldview.