Footballer Omar Dahan Says He Has No Link to Match-Fixing Suspicions

Footballer Omar Dahan said on Monday evening that he is the player arrested on suspicion of illegal gambling and match-fixing. In a social media post, the 21-year-old forward wrote, "I want to make it absolutely clear that I have no connection to the suspicions attributed to me." Dahan grew up and starred in Maccabi Haifa's youth system, and last season played for Hapoel Raanana in the National League.

Dahan was arrested last week and later released to house arrest. Investigators say he is suspected of systematically engaging in illegal betting, as well as match manipulation, money laundering offenses and tax violations, allegedly together with others.

His name surfaced in a wider investigation into a large-scale gambling and extortion case allegedly run by criminals from Migdal HaEmek. According to suspicion, Yosef Buskila, who is in prison, operated a broad gambling and extortion network from behind bars.

The network allegedly ran illegal betting operations and then issued high-interest, black-market loans to gamblers who lost money. When the debts were not repaid, the suspects allegedly carried out extortion and threats. The case is still under investigation.