Hapoel Be'er Sheva Owner Slams Football Association Official

Alona Barkat, owner of Hapoel Be'er Sheva Football Club, has publicly criticized Moran Mairi, the legal advisor for Maccabi Tel Aviv and deputy chairman of the Football Association. The dispute arose after Mairi commented on a podcast, criticizing Hapoel Be'er Sheva's conduct and Barkat herself.

Barkat responded via her X account, accusing Mairi of hypocrisy regarding corporate governance. She argued that a club representative should not hold a senior position in the Football Association, citing a conflict of interest. Barkat specifically pointed out Mairi's dual role, stating that in proper corporate governance, such a situation is unacceptable.

Mairi, in turn, defended his position and accused Barkat of attempting to influence officials. He stated that the association's regulations do not prohibit a deputy chairman from having club affiliations, unlike the chairman. Mairi also claimed that Barkat had previously campaigned against another official for not intervening in a legal matter in her favor and vowed to continue working to strengthen governance within the association.

In his podcast remarks, Mairi had elaborated on his concerns, suggesting that Hapoel Be'er Sheva, which he identified as being part of a "faction" opposing his own, has issues with accessing referees, courts, and national team selections. He advocated for stricter rules against club officials contacting association leadership, judges, or prosecutors, expressing a desire for more "state-like" conduct in football.