Israeli Football Association's Professional Committee Faces Scrutiny Over Membership

The Israeli Football Association's Professional Committee, a key body responsible for approving appointments like the national team coach and discussing the future of Israeli football, has come under scrutiny regarding its composition. An examination of the association's website revealed that five out of the eleven members currently hold no official roles within Israeli football.

These five members are Einav Hazanvald, Sharon Nisanoov, Moshe Damayo, Eli Drix, and Muhammad Abul'am. The remaining six members are Shi Zvartz (Committee Chairman), Itzik Ovadia (CEO of Maccabi Haifa), Alona Barkat (Owner of Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Shi Aaron (Professional Director at Hapoel Jerusalem), Kfir Edri (CEO of Beitar Jerusalem), and Moran Mairi (Deputy Chairman of the Association).

The Professional Committee's mandate, as stated on the association's website, involves overseeing the professional and sporting aspects of the sport, which often form the basis for crucial administrative decisions. The committee also plays a role in developing and advancing the professional level within clubs and among their staff. While the committee's composition is determined by the management, it is typically filled by former coaches and players, often those who have represented Israel's national teams.

According to the association's regulations, the committee's responsibilities include organizing league and cup competitions, approving schedules, handling club requests related to matches (excluding those handled by the League and Cup Committee), monitoring matches with potential sporting sensitivity, coordinating with the Referees' Association and the Coaches' Organization on professional matters, and initiating and planning activities.