Maccabi Haifa Holds Memorial Ceremony for 120 Fans Lost Since October 7

Maccabi Haifa Football Club held a memorial event on Monday to honor the 120 fans who have been killed or fallen since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. The ceremony took place in the stadium's memorial hall and was attended by all players, coaching staff, the CEO, and club employees.

Among the attendees were Shmulik Negari, father of Major (res.) Ro'i Negari, who fell defending his soldiers in Be'eri, and Sandra Magen, wife of Master Sergeant (res.) Aviv Magen, a commando who fell in Lebanon exactly one year after the war's start, on October 7, 2024. They shared the legacies of the fallen soldiers and their connection to Maccabi Haifa.

Club CEO Itzik Ovadia stated, "Three years have passed since October 7, and the pain has become part of all our lives. At Maccabi Haifa, the concepts of 'family' and 'community' take on a much deeper meaning at these moments. 120 fans, an integral part of us, were murdered and fell." He assured the families that they are not alone and that the club has a "deep responsibility to remember them and continue to give them a place within the green community." Ovadia emphasized that a football club is more than just what happens on the field; it is the mosaic of its fans.

Shmulik Negari described the club's commemoration as "active commemoration," noting that they strive to pass on the values Ro'i lived by, mirroring the club's "wonderful management and active doing." He praised the club's community contributions and activities beyond just lighting a memorial candle.

Sandra Magen shared that her husband Aviv, a lifelong fan who raised their children as fans, had been killed on October 7, 2024. She and their son Matan now attend games together at Sammy Ofer Stadium.