Lawyers Criticize Police Probe into Hapoel Tiberias Soccer Club
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Lawyers Shelly Hyatt and Yahav Argaman are criticizing the police investigation into Hapoel Tiberias soccer club's financial dealings, calling it a "witch hunt." Dozens of players, some as young as their 20s, are being investigated for alleged financial offenses and double contracts, facing potential harm to their future careers. The lawyers claim players signed initial contracts and later a second document with lower figures submitted to the football association, and that previous disciplinary actions had already resolved similar issues.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Lawyers Shelly Hyatt and Yahav Argaman are criticizing the police investigation into Hapoel Tiberias soccer club.
- Dozens of players are being investigated by Lahav 433 for alleged financial irregularities and double contracts.
- Attorneys argue the investigation is a "witch hunt" that could harm players' future careers, especially abroad.
- Players reportedly signed initial contracts and later a second document with lower figures submitted to the football association.
- The lawyers claim similar issues were previously addressed by the Israeli Football Association, including a NIS 500,000 fine.
- They argue a signature on a contract does not automatically prove a player's knowledge of false reporting.
Lawyers representing current and former players of Hapoel Tiberias soccer club are criticizing the ongoing police investigation into alleged financial irregularities and double contracts. Attorneys Shelly Hyatt and Yahav Argaman, who are providing legal counsel to several players, described the process as a "witch hunt" and expressed concern over the impact on the athletes' futures.
Hyatt stated that it is "very difficult" for young players, who are primarily focused on soccer, to be investigated by Lahav 433, fingerprinted, and have criminal files opened against them, especially when they have no criminal intent or awareness. She warned that such a record could hinder their ability to obtain visas for overseas clubs.
Argaman added that players summoned for what they believed were open testimony sessions found themselves treated as suspects, potentially leading to self-incrimination or arrest. He highlighted that the Israeli Football Association's disciplinary court had already addressed similar issues, resulting in a NIS 500,000 fine to clear the players. The current police actions, he argued, feel like an unending pursuit.
According to the players' accounts provided to the lawyers, they signed contracts reflecting their agreed salaries. Subsequently, they were asked to sign a second document, presented as a technicality or confirmation, which contained lower figures. This altered document was then reportedly submitted to the Football Association. The lawyers suggest this practice might have been used to present lower salary commitments externally for budget control or reporting purposes, while the players expected to receive their originally agreed-upon net income.
Both lawyers emphasized that a signature on a contract does not automatically prove a player's complicity in false reporting. They stressed the need to examine what was presented to the players, their understanding, and their awareness of the document's use, considering the power dynamics and their dependence on the club for their livelihood. Hyatt also disputed claims that the investigated players had confessed, stating that without reviewing the exact statements, it's impossible to determine if they constitute an admission of knowingly participating in false reporting.
