Maccabi Haifa Fan Group Urges Supporters to Boycott Upcoming Match

The "Green Monkeys," the official fan organization for Maccabi Haifa, has called on supporters not to attend the team's upcoming match against Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium. This boycott stems from a protest against what the fan group describes as "police violence" directed at fans. The organization stated that while they had previously ended a boycott of Teddy Stadium a year ago due to a lack of club cooperation, recent incidents of police aggression, even against general spectators after organized fan groups had left, have prompted this new call to action.

The "Green Monkeys" criticized the club's decision to not distribute tickets and urge fans to stay away as being "too little, too late," suggesting the motive is to appease fans and quell dissent, particularly given the opponent. They emphasized that the protest is not about ego but about substantive issues, asserting that fans are not criminals. The group cited specific instances of alleged police brutality, including dragging a 40-year-old man and arresting him for 24 hours, and punching 15-year-old minors who were filming events.

By urging fans to "vote with their feet," the organization aims to send a clear message that fans should not be treated as criminals. They expressed hope that all Maccabi Haifa fans will join the boycott for this upcoming match to ensure the message is unequivocally received. The fan group has opened a discussion thread on their forum for further details and questions regarding the protest.