Tiberias FC Unable to Register Player Sambeia Amid Financial Dispute

Hapoel Tiberias FC has informed player Sambeia that he cannot be registered due to ongoing financial issues, potentially leading to a dispute with FIFA. The club's trustee, Adv. Liza Hadash, is prioritizing payments to staff and registered players, meaning Sambeia and Tiberias are likely to part ways through arbitration, possibly involving FIFA.

Sambeia's camp is reportedly furious and demanding his release without a transfer fee so he can sign with another team as a free agent. The defender, who has completed a suspension, has not played due to the club's financial problems. Tiberias claims the registration control is creating difficulties and that they received legal advice not to pay for Sambeia's suspension period.

Unlike players David Kaltins and Niv Gottlieb, who returned from three-month suspensions and were registered, Tiberias was reportedly asked for an additional 800,000 shekels in guarantees to register Sambeia, a sum the club cannot currently raise.

Sambeia's agent, Adv. Shahar Greenberg, expressed anger at the club's conduct, stating, "They need to be punished severely for their behavior. If it doesn't come from the Association arbitration, it will come from FIFA." He added that the situation is "bizarre" given a signed two-year contract from the previous season is now not part of the approved agreements for the current season, indicating a "serious problem for both the club and the control body."

Greenberg suggested that Tiberias should have done everything to keep Sambeia playing, as they need him. However, he speculated that if Tiberias has accepted relegation, it might be better for Sambeia not to play for them.