Hapoel Jerusalem Accuses Maccabi Haifa of Sabotaging Fan Agreement
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Hapoel Jerusalem accused Maccabi Haifa's leadership of sabotaging efforts to resolve a dispute with the Jerusalem police, leading to a boycott by Maccabi Haifa fans. Hapoel Jerusalem's CEO stated that Maccabi Haifa refused to meet with police or agree to compromises, setting a dangerous precedent for Israeli football. Despite the boycott, Hapoel Jerusalem assured fans that cash ticket options would be available and lists kept confidential for the upcoming match.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Jerusalem accused Maccabi Haifa of refusing to cooperate with police to resolve a fan dispute.
- The alleged lack of cooperation led to a boycott by thousands of Maccabi Haifa fans.
- Hapoel Jerusalem's CEO called the situation a dangerous precedent for Israeli football.
- Hapoel Jerusalem stated that proposed solutions were torpedoed by Maccabi Haifa officials.
- The club assured Maccabi Haifa fans that ticket purchases would remain confidential.
Hapoel Jerusalem has launched a strong attack on the leadership of Maccabi Haifa, citing their alleged refusal to cooperate in resolving a dispute with the Jerusalem police. The conflict has led to a boycott by Maccabi Haifa fans, with only about 1,000 expected at the upcoming match between the two teams in Jerusalem.
Hapoel Jerusalem claims they made extensive efforts to mediate between Maccabi Haifa and the Jerusalem police, even engaging a consulting firm run by retired senior police officers. However, these efforts were reportedly thwarted by Maccabi Haifa officials, who allegedly refused to meet with the police or engage with proposed solutions. "Every idea we brought up, Haifa torpedoed. They didn't even agree to meet with the police," Hapoel Jerusalem stated.
Uri Sheretzky, CEO of Hapoel Jerusalem, expressed frustration, stating that the police had agreed to meet with fan organizations and Maccabi Haifa leadership to reach understandings, but encountered a "complete refusal." He suggested that both Maccabi Haifa's management and fan groups were afraid to be the ones to sign off on a compromise, instead passing the responsibility back and forth. "If I didn't know, I wouldn't believe this is Maccabi Haifa," Sheretzky said.
Sheretzky further warned that the boycott sets a dangerous precedent for Israeli football, comparing it to boycotts faced by Israeli teams in Europe. He emphasized that the issue could have been resolved with a little willingness and courage, and that the motivation for Hapoel Jerusalem was not solely financial. He also addressed concerns from Maccabi Haifa fans about anonymity in ticket purchases, assuring them that cash ticket booths would be available and purchased lists would remain confidential.
The situation has resulted in thousands of Maccabi Haifa fans being unable to watch their team play, despite the potential for resolution. Sheretzky urged Maccabi Haifa fans not beholden to internal politics and ego battles to attend the game in Jerusalem.
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