Beitar Jerusalem Coach Opposes Saturday Games, Suggests Friday Alternative

Almog Cohen, the coach and professional manager of Beitar Jerusalem, has voiced his opposition to holding football matches on Saturdays, citing religious observance. In a post-match interview following Beitar's 1-0 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva, Cohen proposed an alternative schedule, suggesting games be played on Fridays at 1:00 PM. This timing, he believes, would allow observant Jews to attend matches without violating the Sabbath.

Cohen's stance aligns with his previous expressions on the importance of observing the Sabbath and his desire to avoid scheduling his team's games on that day. The issue has resurfaced as Beitar Jerusalem's next match is scheduled for Saturday afternoon against Ironi Kiryat Shmona. While Cohen's proposal aims to accommodate religious spectators, an opposing argument suggests that Saturday games enable families and children to attend.

The match itself saw Beitar Jerusalem secure a win with a penalty goal from Yarden Shua in the 12th minute. However, the game was preceded by an unusual incident where fans of both Beitar and Hapoel Petah Tikva engaged in a brawl on the field before kickoff. The disturbance began when Beitar fans, who had purchased tickets for the home team's section, attempted to cross the field to reach their designated area. Security and police forces intervened to separate the groups and escort the fans back to their stands.