Kiryat Shmona Outraged Over Missed Penalty Call in Loss to Netanya

Kiryat Shmona players and staff expressed significant anger following their 1-0 loss to Maccabi Netanya on Saturday, attributing the defeat to what they perceived as a missed penalty call in the closing minutes. The club is currently in a negative momentum, sitting in 13th place in the league table with only three points from a possible 21 and having suffered five consecutive losses. The disappointment is amplified by the feeling that the team deserved a better outcome from the match.

Central to the controversy was an incident in the penalty area where, according to Kiryat Shmona, player Amadou Saniyah was stepped on. The club shared images of Saniyah's bleeding leg after the game, with officials 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, coached by Shai Berda, will host Bnei Sakhnin next Saturday in their upcoming match. The team's current standing places them second to last in the league, increasing the pressure on the players. To improve their situation, the club recognizes the need to enhance their defensive performance and prevent goals, having conceded 13 goals in their last five league games.