Haifa Municipality Blocks Hapoel Haifa Training Ahead of Derby Over Payment Dispute

Hapoel Haifa faces uncertainty over its training facilities after the Haifa municipality suspended the club's access to the Beit Nagler training ground due to an outstanding debt of several thousand shekels. The club, returning from a training camp in Bulgaria on Monday, was informed that it cannot use the municipal training field until the payment issue is resolved. Attempts by both the municipality and the club to settle the debt have so far failed.

The timing of the suspension, just days before Hapoel Haifa's opening match of the 2026/27 season in the Toto Cup derby, has raised questions and frustration within the club. Hapoel Haifa criticized the municipality for drastically cutting its annual support budget to only 29,000 shekels, likening it to the cost of socks, and accused the city of neglecting one of its oldest and most important institutions in its 103rd year.

The club also highlighted its significant financial contributions to the municipality, including millions of shekels annually for the use of city facilities and the Sammy Ofer Stadium, which would otherwise be underutilized. Despite reaching a payment agreement for last season's facility use and being allowed to train initially, the municipality abruptly reversed its decision, preventing training at Beit Nagler just before the derby. This move has been described by the club as puzzling and unfair, especially compared to rival teams that receive millions in municipal funding and free or subsidized facilities.