Tiberias Football Club Officials Detained Amid Financial Probe
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
Three senior officials from the Hapoel Tiberias football club, including owner Arie Kalmanzon and partner Michael Biton, had their detentions extended as part of a financial investigation. They are suspected of offenses including money laundering and tax evasion, stemming from a prior Football Association probe that cost the team 14 points. The club is also dealing with internal ownership disputes and a separate ongoing investigation into suspected doping violations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Three senior Hapoel Tiberias football club officials, including owner Arie Kalmanzon, had their detentions extended by courts.
- They are suspected of financial offenses including money laundering and tax evasion totaling tens of millions of shekels.
- The current investigation follows a prior Football Association probe that resulted in the team losing 14 points over two seasons.
- The club is also embroiled in a severe ownership dispute, leading to the appointment of a trustee.
- A separate ongoing investigation concerns suspected use of prohibited performance-enhancing substances by coaches and players.
The detention of three senior officials from the Hapoel Tiberias football club, suspected of financial offenses totaling tens of millions of shekels, has been extended. The main owner, Arie Kalmanzon, and his partner, Michael Biton, had their detentions extended by four days, while administrative manager Yael Bar's detention was extended by three days. The police are accusing all three of money laundering, tax offenses, false corporate record-keeping, fraud, and using forged documents. This criminal development stems from a disciplinary investigation by the Football Association conducted about six months ago, which previously resulted in the team losing eight points last season and six points this season as part of a plea deal. Kalmanzon claims Biton committed the offenses, while Biton and Bar deny the accusations. The Football Association's investigation focused on suspicions that at least 15 players held or hold dual contracts, allowing for the concealment of true salaries from budget controllers and tax authorities. This practice allegedly allowed players to receive part of their payment "off the books," evading taxes and impacting their social security and pension rights. The Association's prosecutor had filed charges in April against the club, Biton, Bar, and several players, seeking a 30-point deduction and lengthy bans, but the plea deal settled for 14 points over two seasons. The club is also facing internal disputes between its owners, leading to the appointment of Liza Hadash as a trustee by the District Court in Nazareth last month, transferring all management powers to her. Separately, the National Anti-Doping Agency in Sport suspended coach Eliran Khodida, several players, the technical director, and the fitness coach in July on suspicion of using prohibited performance-enhancing substances via infusions, with that investigation ongoing.
The club has also criticized the budget controller's report, claiming it contained numerous serious flaws and that their calculations differed significantly from the controller's, involving hundreds of thousands of shekels.
Kalmanzon is reportedly in a dispute with Biton, who admitted to offenses during the disciplinary hearing and received a seven-year ban, while Biton and Bar have denied the current allegations.
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