Maccabi Haifa CEO Criticizes Jerusalem Crowd Control, Halts Ticket Sales

Maccabi Haifa CEO Itzik Ovadia has announced the club will not sell tickets to its fans for an upcoming match against Hapoel Jerusalem on October 12th, citing concerns over fan safety at Teddy Stadium. Ovadia stated that for years, Maccabi Haifa fans have returned from games in Jerusalem "bruised and with the same difficult experiences," and that he no longer feels confident about the experience awaiting supporters.

Ovadia emphasized that while the club does not condone violence or rioting by fans, it is responsible for its supporters' well-being. He expressed frustration with what he described as excessive force used by police in Jerusalem, which he believes also affects innocent bystanders. The CEO noted that despite previous discussions with Jerusalem police in 2022 and assurances of more patient crowd management, the situation has not improved, leading to fans returning injured.

"Protest is legitimate, desecration is not," Ovadia declared, addressing protests from some Maccabi Haifa fans against him. He acknowledged feeling hurt by insulting signs but differentiated between legitimate protest and personal attacks. Ovadia stated his openness to dialogue with fans and highlighted the club's success when supported by its fanbase, but drew a line at "desecration/defamation."

Maccabi Haifa's decision comes amid ongoing issues at Teddy Stadium, which Ovadia claims have been a recurring problem since 2021. Hapoel Jerusalem has stated they will proceed with selling tickets to their own fans.