Tiberias Football Club Officials Arrested in Major Financial Probe
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Four officials from the Hapoel Ironi Tiberias football club, including owner Aryeh Kalmanzon and former coach Eliran Hodada, were arrested on suspicion of financial offenses and double contracts worth tens of millions of shekels. Police are investigating widespread fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion over four seasons. Dozens of current and former players, potentially over 100, are being summoned for testimony. The club is currently under the management of a trustee due to an ownership dispute.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Four Hapoel Ironi Tiberias officials, including owner Aryeh Kalmanzon, were arrested for alleged financial crimes.
- The investigation involves suspicions of fraud, double contracts, and money laundering totaling tens of millions of shekels.
- Dozens of current and former players, possibly over 100, are being summoned for testimony.
- Former coach Eliran Hodada is considered a central figure in the alleged double contract scheme.
- The club is currently managed by a trustee due to an ownership dispute between Kalmanzon and Miki Beitan.
- The arrests have caused professional and financial uncertainty for the team.
Four individuals connected to the Hapoel Ironi Tiberias football club, including owner Aryeh Kalmanzon, former partner Miki Beitan, former coach Eliran Hodada, and financial manager Yael Bar, were arrested as part of an investigation into alleged financial offenses and double contracts totaling tens of millions of shekels. The arrests were made by Lahav 433, a unit of the Israel Police, which is investigating suspicions of fraud, false corporate record-keeping, forgery, money laundering, and tax and National Insurance violations. Police raided the homes of the suspects on Sunday, seeking to extend their detention for a week due to fears of evidence tampering. A Magistrate's Court in Rishon LeZion partially granted the police's request, extending the detention of the four until Thursday.
In parallel, current and former players of the club have been summoned to Lahav 433 to provide testimony. Police indicated that dozens more investigations are expected, with the complex case anticipated to take several days to resolve. The investigation extends to players who played for Tiberias up to four years ago, with over 100 players expected to be questioned.
Hodada is considered a central figure in the alleged scheme, particularly regarding the double contracts, while Kalmanzon and Beitan face suspicions of obstructing the investigation. The offenses are believed to have been committed systematically over four seasons.
Hapoel Ironi Tiberias is currently managed by trustee Adv. Liza Hadash, appointed due to a dispute between Kalmanzon and Beitan. Hadash is responsible for the club's recovery and daily operations, including all financial accounts and payments.
Professionally, the arrests surprised the team's players and staff. The prospect of numerous players being questioned further is a concern for the club, which has not yet issued an official statement. Financially, while October salaries have been paid, next month's payments are now uncertain.
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