Kiryat Shmona Outraged by Missed Penalty Call in Loss to Maccabi Netanya

Kiryat Shmona suffered a 1-0 defeat to Maccabi Netanya on Saturday, extending their negative momentum. The loss leaves the northern club in 13th place in the league standings with only three points from a possible 21, marking their fifth consecutive loss. The disappointment within the club is significant, fueled by a feeling that the team deserved a better outcome from the match. Kiryat Shmona's management described the loss as cruel, believing they could have achieved more during the game.

Following the match, considerable anger was directed at the officiating crew, both on the field and in the VAR room. The club is furious over a penalty they claim was not awarded in the closing minutes, after Amadou Sanya was allegedly stepped on in the penalty area. The team shared images of the player's bleeding leg after the game and criticized the decision, stating, "This is an incident that could not be ignored. It is illogical that the VAR officials did not see such a foul for a penalty."

Kiryat Shmona is scheduled to host Bnei Sakhnin next Saturday at the Netanya Stadium for their eighth-round match. Currently second to last in the table with just three points, the pressure on the players is mounting. The club believes they can get back on track against Bnei Sakhnin, but will need to improve their defensive performance and secure a clean sheet, having conceded 13 goals in their last five league games.