Hapoel Tel Aviv Owner Criticizes Referee, Defends Coach After Cup Final Loss

Ofer Yanai, the owner of Hapoel Tel Aviv, expressed deep disappointment following his team's 86-75 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Winner Cup final. Hapoel Tel Aviv had led by as many as 23 points in the third quarter before ultimately falling short of their first title in decades. Yanai described the loss as heartbreaking and acknowledged that the team stopped playing effectively in the latter stages of the game.

Yanai strongly criticized referee Sefi Shemesh, calling his behavior arrogant and questioning his ability to officiate at the highest level due to his age and perceived lack of awareness. He suggested Shemesh should retire and make way for younger referees, also alleging corruption within the referee association.

Despite the loss, Yanai defended coach Dimitris Itoudis, calling him an asset to the club and crediting him with elevating Hapoel Tel Aviv to EuroLeague status. He noted that Itoudis has led the team to unprecedented achievements and that top players are attracted to the club because of him. Yanai expressed hope that the team would win its first title under Itoudis by February.

Regarding Maccabi Tel Aviv, Yanai believes coach Oded Katash's position is stable. He also commented on former Hapoel Tel Aviv player Yam Madar, stating that Madar made his choice to join Maccabi and that the club is satisfied with the current situation, thanking Madar for his contributions to Hapoel's promotion to the EuroLeague.

Yanai also touched upon the future of European basketball, agreeing with Itoudis that the EuroLeague is likely to expand, leading to increased game volume and potential challenges in balancing domestic league play with European commitments.