Israeli footballer Omer Dahan said on Monday that he was the player arrested last week and denied any involvement in the allegations against him. In a post on social media, he said, "I regret that my name has been linked to the suspicions attributed to me," and added, "I have no connection whatsoever to claims of match-fixing or selling games." He also said, "I have never hurt the teams I played for."
Dahan was detained at Ben Gurion Airport just before leaving Israel. The investigation, led by Lahav 433 together with the Israel Football Association, centers on suspicions of illegal betting, money laundering, tax offenses, and match manipulation. Police suspect he was targeted by a blackmail network run by a criminal currently serving prison time.
A police source in Lahav 433 said investigators have gathered a "body of evidence indicating especially serious conduct," and added that other figures in the sports world may also be questioned. Dahan said his family has long struggled with financial hardship, but insisted his personal life is separate from the professional conduct now under scrutiny. He expressed confidence that the truth will soon emerge and that he will be able to return to football.
His attorney, Batel Shirki, said he is cooperating fully with investigators and has already given his version of events. "He is a normative person acting transparently and with a desire to clear his name," she said, adding that a thorough review of the facts will show no misconduct in his professional behavior.
