Ex-Coach Kobi Refua Sues Player Idan Vered for $72,000 Over Live TV Remarks

Former professional soccer player and coach Kobi Refua is suing player Idan Vered for over 264,000 shekels (approximately $72,000) in damages. Refua, who recently concluded his role as professional director at Bnei Eilat, claims Vered made defamatory statements about him during a live broadcast on the program "The Daily Conversation" on ONE TV channel on September 7.

Refua's lawsuit, filed by attorneys Asaf Sharaff and Tal Shahar, alleges that Vered intentionally ambushed him during what appeared to be a routine interview. Vered reportedly accused Refua of yelling at and humiliating players, stating that Bnei Eilat and other Premier League teams were right not to employ him. Vered also claimed Refua had unfairly criticized him and others, contrasting Refua's alleged behavior with that of a "young and intelligent generation" of coaches.

The lawsuit asserts that Vered's statements severely damaged Refua's reputation, built over decades as a player and coach, constituting a deliberate attempt to harm his livelihood and professional future. It further states that Refua experienced humiliation, his honor was trampled, and he, his friends, and family were exposed to harsh slander, amplified by the broadcast's reach across television, radio, Instagram, and TikTok.

The broadcast, which went viral on social media, garnered hundreds of comments describing Vered's remarks as "murder," "bloodshed," "public humiliation," and "baseness of spirit." Refua's legal team contends that Vered's words constitute severe libel intended to cause harm. A response from Idan Vered was not immediately available.