Maccabi Tel Aviv Players Receive Reduced Suspensions After State Cup Final Brawl

Following over two weeks of negotiations, plea agreements were reached on Thursday between the Israel Football Association and the clubs Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be'er Sheva regarding the disciplinary case stemming from the violent incidents at the 2026 State Cup final. The disciplinary tribunal must now decide whether to approve these agreements.

Under the deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Christian Blitz will be suspended for five games plus seven conditional matches, reduced from the original demand of eight games plus eight conditional. The punishment also covers an incident involving a Hapoel Be'er Sheva fan during the match at Turner Stadium. Other Maccabi players received reduced suspensions: Kevin Andrade faces seven games plus seven conditional, Elad Madmon three games plus three conditional, and Tyrese Asante one game plus two conditional. The club manager, Yoav Ziv, had his suspension cut from six months to three months.

The suspensions will begin with the upcoming "Champion of Champions" match between the two teams next Thursday at Turner Stadium. The disciplinary proceedings followed violent clashes between the teams after the cup final about six weeks ago, with the association's prosecutor, attorney Gilad Bergman, initially demanding significant bans. After a lengthy hearing 15 days ago, the tribunal chairman Noam Liubin recommended the parties seek plea agreements. Although the initial ten-day deadline was insufficient, the clubs requested more time and ultimately reached the current settlement this week.