Ex-Basketball Association Employee Sues for NIS 1 Million Over Alleged Harassment

A former employee of the Israel Basketball Association, Sigal Biton, is suing the organization, its Referees Association chairman Assi Shalom, and the director of the Central District Nir Segal for approximately NIS 1 million. Biton, who worked for the association for 11 years as a secretariat referee and since 2021 as deputy director of the Central District, claims she was subjected to prolonged harassment, humiliation, and personal attacks, culminating in her dismissal in September 2025.

The lawsuit centers on the alleged conduct of Nir Segal, Biton's direct supervisor. According to the suit, Segal sent Biton offensive messages, including calling her "the lowest level of all secretariat referees," stating she "would have been out of our league long ago in any normal professional place," and referring to her as "Ms. Tragedy." In another instance, following a professional dispute, Segal allegedly wrote, "Has Alzheimer's returned?" and also sent messages like "Lying again" and "Learn to read." In a voice message, he reportedly said, "Come on, you're 50-something, you can't make a decision on a simple decision?"

Biton also alleges that on January 13, 2022, after she responded "Okay" to a directive about a referee assignment, Segal texted her, "Do you have it colder? Ashkenazi." Biton claims this was another example of the dismissive and humiliating treatment she experienced, where even a brief response led to a personal and offensive remark. She further states that Segal gave her contradictory instructions, reprimanded her for independent decisions, and accused her of lacking professional ability when she sought approval.

In July 2025, Segal requested Biton's replacement, emailing association executives that she was "assigning referees without common sense," struggled to understand instructions, and "invented situations." He recommended Ron Glazer, who was appointed after Biton's dismissal. Biton also accuses Assi Shalom, Chairman of the Referees Association, of ignoring her complaints. She describes her dismissal hearing in September 2025 as humiliating, during which her statements were repeatedly interrupted. According to the lawsuit's transcript, Shalom told her during the hearing, "The lady doesn't know who her boss is."

Biton further alleges gender discrimination, stating she was the only woman in a deputy district director role and that her dismissal was intended to maintain a male-dominated management. She claims her notice of resignation was a result of pressure during the hearing, not a free choice. Biton is seeking compensation for wrongful termination, bullying, defamation, and discrimination, along with the annulment of her dismissal. The Basketball and Referees Associations responded that they would provide a detailed response in court, stating that Biton was represented by the Histadrut and her lawyers during the hearing and made no claims. They also asserted that Biton never complained about bullying or the alleged messages to the association or its chairman, noting that many messages predate Shalom's tenure and that her claims focused on referee assignments. The associations claim Biton received respectful treatment for all her inquiries to the chairman.