Israeli Soccer Teams Face Financial Penalties for Using Extra Foreign Players
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Israeli Premier League soccer clubs are choosing not to field an eighth foreign player to avoid losing NIS 3 million in sports ministry grants and paying NIS 1.5 million in fines. Clubs estimate that the financial losses, exceeding NIS 5 million in total, outweigh the limited professional advantage of using an extra foreign player in only 10-12 games per season. Defying the rule could lead to conflict with other clubs and pressure them to do the same.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli soccer clubs face over NIS 5 million in financial penalties for using an eighth foreign player.
- Clubs forfeit a NIS 3 million grant from the Ministry of Sports for using an eighth foreign player.
- Fines for using an eighth foreign player total approximately NIS 1.5 million.
- The financial penalties are considered too high for the limited professional advantage gained.
- Using an eighth foreign player is only considered in about 10-12 games per season.
- Defying the rule could create conflict and pressure among league clubs.
Israeli Premier League clubs are grappling with a dilemma regarding the use of foreign players, as regulations limit them to registering seven foreign players per league game, even when eight are healthy and available. This situation often leads to clubs foregoing the potential professional advantage of fielding an eighth foreign player to avoid significant financial penalties. The decision to exclude a player who is fit to play also creates an unhealthy dynamic within the team's professional staff and among the players themselves.
A club that chooses to field an eighth foreign player faces substantial financial losses. They forfeit a NIS 3 million grant from the Ministry of Sports intended to encourage Israeli players. Additionally, they incur fines totaling approximately NIS 1.5 million, with NIS 1 million for the eighth foreign player and an additional NIS 300,000 to NIS 500,000 for the seventh. Further financial repercussions come from grants related to sports promotion centers in Israel, pushing the total cost of using an eighth foreign player to over NIS 5 million.
Club officials explain that the decision to adhere to the seven-foreigner limit is primarily economic. On average, players, both foreign and Israeli, miss three to five games per season due to various reasons, including injuries or not being in the starting lineup. Considering these factors, clubs estimate that there are only about 10 to 12 games per season where the decision to field an eighth foreign player even arises. Therefore, the perceived professional benefit is not deemed worth the considerable financial loss.
However, if a team were to defy the regulation and field an eighth foreign player, it could create immense pressure on rival teams to follow suit. Such a move is also expected to lead to severe conflict between the offending club and other major clubs, potentially forming a united front against it in other league matters and creating a significant obstacle for the rule-breaking team.
