Arik Shtilman Criticizes Racanati Family's Control Over Maccabi Tel Aviv

Arik Shtilman, CEO and founder of Rapyd, has publicly expressed frustration over being sidelined from Maccabi Tel Aviv less than two months after joining the club. Initially expected to become one of the owners, Shtilman was reduced to a main sponsor role after the Racanati family acquired the Federman family's shares, gaining control of 58 percent of the club's stock.

On July 12, 2026, Shtilman tweeted a pointed critique comparing Maccabi Tel Aviv to a neglected historic building on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv, owned by a wealthy family that refuses to sell or renovate it. He emphasized that unlike such properties, Maccabi Tel Aviv belongs to its fans, not to a single family.

In a recent interview on 103fm's sports program, Shtilman described the takeover as a "100 percent power and ego game" lacking economic or professional logic. He said the club was in dire need of urgent revival, with entire systems neglected for years and requiring modernization from 1985 standards to 2026. Despite his criticism, he acknowledged the Racanati family's right to make decisions regarding the club.

Shtilman's comments highlight tensions following the ownership shift and raise questions about the future direction and management of one of Israel's most prominent football clubs.