Former Israeli Soccer Player Banned for Racist and Abusive Outbursts

Former Israeli soccer player Sahar Mizrahi, currently coaching for the Holon Sports Association in Liga Bet, has been suspended for ten games, with an additional twenty games suspended. Mizrahi was judged in absentia after failing to appear for his hearing. Judge Yishai Yishinovsky Yariv imposed the penalty, stating that Mizrahi had crossed a line. The match referee, Aya Faraj, daughter of Issawi Faraj, detailed in her report that after awarding a penalty kick to Beitar Petah Tikva in the 92nd minute, Mizrahi entered the field and shouted at her, "You have no idea." Following his red card, Mizrahi reportedly yelled further abusive and racist remarks at Faraj, including "whore," "slut," and "stinking Arab," and expressed frustration with female referees. The referee also noted that the Holon team manager intervened to prevent Mizrahi from approaching her while he was raising his fist. The judge cited Mizrahi's racist and abusive conduct and insulting a referee as grounds for the punishment. Mizrahi was a prominent figure for Bnei Yehuda in the 1990s and early 2000s, spending seven seasons in their youth department and is considered one of the club's greatest and most beloved players. He concluded his role at Bnei Yehuda's football school last summer.