A new social media spat broke out on X after Maccabi Tel Aviv won the championship, with the club’s new owner Arik Shtilman and Hapoel Tel Aviv owner Ofer Yannay trading barbs. It was not the first time the two have clashed online.
Shtilman opened by posting “Awake?” to Yannay. Yannay replied that, as he had told “the children from the gate loyal to Rakanati,” people should make sure Shtilman is approved, otherwise “next year you will compete for 18th place in the EuroLeague.” He added that if Shtilman is approved and chooses to try to win titles “in a clean sporting way,” that would be “a celebration.”
Shtilman then mocked Yannay, writing, “Is there any chance you still have championship watches? We’re missing a few.” Yannay answered that his watches would not suit Shtilman because they are for “a clean sporting championship,” while Shtilman needs “the kind of 8 against 5,” a reference to his claim that referees decided the playoff final series. Yannay ended that post with the line, “It is time to clean up Israeli basketball.”
The exchange followed Yannay’s lengthy attack after the game, in which he said Israeli basketball is being played against a headwind from institutions that are supposed to be objective. He argued that competition in Israel is not on equal terms, accused Ami Bitton of standing throughout games and giving instructions to referees “as if they work for him,” and said he is told not to stand when he does the same. Yannay said the league must be made fair so that winners can be proud of winning basketball and losers can say they lost on the court, not because of other factors.
