Maccabi Haifa Refuses to Sell Tickets for Teddy Stadium Match Over Police Conduct

Maccabi Haifa Football Club has announced it will not distribute or sell tickets to its fans for the upcoming away game against Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium next Monday. The club cited a lack of change in the conduct of local police towards Maccabi Haifa fans and past incidents of violence experienced by supporters at the stadium. This decision is expected to cost Hapoel Jerusalem between 300,000 and 400,000 shekels in lost revenue, as an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 tickets were anticipated to be sold to Maccabi Haifa supporters. While Beitar Jerusalem might have been able to fill the stands with its own fans, Hapoel Jerusalem relies on away support to fill Teddy Stadium, even for major rivalries. This match marks the first league game of the season at Teddy Stadium, as both Jerusalem clubs have been hosting games outside the capital due to stadium renovations. Maccabi Haifa stated in its announcement that its fans have faced "a not insignificant number of violence incidents by the local police" at Teddy Stadium in recent years. The club has repeatedly appealed to the Jerusalem District Police, requesting a change in their approach, but claims no significant improvement has occurred, with force sometimes used disproportionately. "We cannot accept a situation where fans attending a football match are exposed to incidents that endanger their safety, including women and children," the club declared. Maccabi Haifa will withhold ticket sales for games at Teddy Stadium until a "substantial change on the ground" in police conduct is observed, ensuring fans can attend matches safely and feel fully protected.