Coaches' Association Condemns Eliran Oved's Remarks as a ‘Blatant Violation of Human Dignity’

"We are deeply shocked, this is a violation of human dignity". In the Coaches' Association, they responded to Kobi Refua's remarks, "A red alert, we have approached the association." Sports 5, published: 11.06.26, 14:20. Photo: Sports 5

The extraordinary footage in the series "Queen of the Neighborhood" on Kan, in which Eliran Oved can be seen shouting harshly at Kobi Refua during Bnei Yehuda's defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv, sparked a סערה. The Israel Football Coaches' Association issued an official letter on the matter: "The Israel Football Coaches' Association expresses deep shock and disgust at the disgraceful video that was distributed on social media, in which the owner of Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, Mr. Eliran Oved, is seen and heard lashing out in a brutal, humiliating and degrading manner at the team's coach, Mr. Kobi Refua, in full view of everyone. This unrestrained behavior by senior figures in Israeli football in general, and toward coaches in particular, has crossed a bright red line. This is not only a personal injury to Mr. Refua, but a spit in the face of the status of football coaches in Israel and a trampling of human dignity in all its forms. The association wishes to make it absolutely clear: such behavior sets a blazing red alert for any player, coach or official in the industry. This serious incident raises a major and fundamental question, whether a football club managed in such a way is a proper and sensible workplace where professionals would want to work, regardless of the amount of money offered to them? A culture of abuse, public humiliation and the creation of a hostile work environment cannot be tolerated, for any amount of money. Because the serious incident was not brought to the association's management officially before it was published, the association was unable to handle the case in real time. However, immediately upon the exposure of the shocking material, the association acted without delay. In parallel with this statement, the Coaches' Association formally contacted the Football Association's prosecutor, requesting that he examine the legal and disciplinary status in this matter, and use the tools granted to him in the regulations to bring Eliran Oved and Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv to justice. From here, the association addresses coach Kobi Refua personally: our door is open to you. You are invited to file an official complaint with the association, and we commit to act with all the force and with all the legal and public means at our disposal to protect your rights and bring those responsible to justice. In our view, there is no place, justification or logic to continue working in a workplace where an owner behaves in such a disgraceful manner toward his coach in front of many people. In addition, the association calls on every coach in Israel who is experiencing abuse, harassment or harmful treatment in their workplace to contact the Coaches' Association immediately and without delay. We will not reconcile, we will not remain silent, and we will not allow any club in Israel to disrespect the status of the coach and turn him into a punching bag. The Coaches' Association will continue to stand as a bulwark in defense of the dignity, status and rights of football coaches in Israel."

As mentioned, these were Oved's remarks: "Can't you see what's happening on the field? This is the worst-coached team I've ever seen in my life (slamming the door in anger). Kobi Mor is gone, Joël Abeka comes in, Yaniv Brick is gone, Yuval Peleg is in midfield, I'm going to manage the game, I won't let you disgrace this club. Tell me, are you crazy? Can't you see what's happening? You're not making a substitution? Your team looks like a pile of garbage in the 20th minute, and you don't make a substitution? You're leaving Kobi Mor to concede 4 goals against him. Peleg doesn't know whether he's a center back or a defensive midfielder. What happened, did you black out? Can't you manage the game? Get up, go outside! Don't invent football. Do you want to lose 10-0?"

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