Hapoel Tel Aviv Owner Ofer Yanai Returns to a Game After Months Away

Ofer Yanai, the owner of Hapoel Tel Aviv, attended his team’s game against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Sunday night for the first time in several months. The third game of the final series was played at Maccabi’s home court, and the hosts entered with a 2-0 lead and the chance to clinch the championship.

Yanai had not been seen at Hapoel games since he was removed from a match against Hapoel Jerusalem over the so-called “battery affair.” During that game, he went to the scorer’s table area to charge his mobile phone and was also seen filming then Jerusalem coach Yonatan Alon. Since then, he said several times that he would not return to games until he received an apology.

In recent weeks, Yanai’s representatives filed a NIS 1.17 million lawsuit against the referees’ association, saying it had led a “smear and delegitimization campaign” against him. His appearance at the final comes as Maccabi are one win away from the title.