Hapoel Tel Aviv Fans Report Neglect and Violence Outside Netanya Stadium

Ahead of the match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem in Netanya, fans of Hapoel Tel Aviv reported serious failures in crowd separation and security outside the stadium. Despite police reports of five arrests before kickoff, supporters described a lack of signage, guidance, and protection that led to violent confrontations in the parking area. One fan, identified as E., recounted arriving with friends to find no clear directions and being directed by a policewoman into a parking lot filled with Beitar fans without any barriers or separation.

E. described how they were immediately targeted for wearing red NBA shirts, with hostile fans shouting insults and spitting directly in their faces two hours before the game. When they sought police assistance to move their car and avoid further conflict, officers allegedly responded by threatening them with fines instead of providing help. E. expressed fear for their safety, saying they felt trapped in a hostile environment and only managed to move their vehicle after the match ended, still shaken.

The Hapoel Tel Aviv club had promised a separate and distant area for their fans away from Beitar supporters, but neither the police nor the club ensured their safety, resulting in a traumatic experience. The police have yet to respond to these allegations.