Bnei Sakhnin to Host Memorial Match for Nova Massacre Victim Lior Assulin
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
Football club Bnei Sakhnin will host a memorial match for former player Lior Assulin, killed at the Nova festival, on October 20, 2026. The match will pit the 2003/2004 cup-winning team against the current squad. Assulin's family has expressed reservations, citing a lack of prior contact and unanswered questions about the event's format. The club insists on honoring his legacy, while the family awaits further clarification.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Bnei Sakhnin will hold a memorial match for former player Lior Assulin on October 20, 2026.
- Lior Assulin was murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7.
- The match will feature the 2003/2004 cup-winning team against the current senior squad.
- Assulin's family has expressed reservations and has many questions about the event.
- The club stated they have deep respect and love for the late Lior Assulin.
The football club Bnei Sakhnin announced on Tuesday that it will hold a memorial match for its former player Lior Assulin, who was murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 5:15 PM at Doha Stadium. It will feature the 2003/2004 State Cup-winning team, on which Assulin played, against the current senior team and will be broadcast on the Sports Channel.
Bnei Sakhnin stated, "The club Bnei Sakhnin has deep respect and love for the late Lior Assulin. We will not forget for a moment his commitment to the club, which contributed greatly to the belief in the power of sport to connect people." The club expressed gratitude to all participants and invited the public to attend the event.
In recent years, Assulin's family and media reports, including an interview with former club chairman Mohamed Abu Younes, have claimed the club had not contacted the family or acted to properly commemorate him. Bnei Sakhnin added that Assulin's family has been invited and that public figures and sports personalities have been invited to honor his sporting and humanitarian contributions.
Assulin's family is still undecided about attending. His sister, Ortal, told Kan News, "As of now, we have not been personally approached. We learned about it from the publications. Our opinions are divided, and we have many questions. Questions about it being done too late, although we appreciate any commemoration. But there are questions, will the anthem be played? Will the reasons for the murder be mentioned? How will it be conducted? Many questions."
Eyal Lachman will coach the winning team, which will include players such as Kamoko Kamara, Shagi Strauss, Assaf Mendes, Nidal Shala'ata, Avi Danan, Ernest Atichi, Basem Ganaim, Mahran Abu Raya, Abbas Suan, Samer Mi'ari, Darius Jacevicius, Tomer Eliyahu, Ami Tayar, Nidal Hujirat, Khaled Halaila, Maurice Ouzan, Ahmed Kassoum, Husem Abu Saleh, Wassim Abbas, Rafi Cohen, and Gabriel Lima.
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