Maccabi Tel Aviv Sponsor Arik Shtilman Criticizes Club Management Over Player Signings

Arik Shtilman, the main sponsor of Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball club and CEO of Rapyd, publicly criticized the club's management on July 21, 2026, over delays in signing local players. He sarcastically referenced the club's internal inefficiency by tweeting that "the secretary responsible for the fax simply did not come to work this week," highlighting his frustration with the club's outdated operations.

Shtilman, who previously acquired half of the Federman family's shares in Maccabi Tel Aviv but was later sidelined after the Recanati family bought out Federman, accused the current management of fearing change and ignoring fan communication. In a recent podcast appearance on "We Are on the Map," he described the management as inexperienced and stuck in the past, saying they treat fans merely as sources of funding rather than stakeholders.

He criticized the Recanati family, calling them out for being stuck in the 1970s and 1980s and interfering without understanding modern sports management. Shtilman emphasized the need for a professional system including a general manager and high-level scouting to keep up with 2026 standards, calling the current situation embarrassing for the club.

This ongoing dispute reflects deeper tensions within Maccabi Tel Aviv's ownership and management structure, with Shtilman continuing to voice his dissatisfaction publicly. The club has yet to resolve the player recruitment issues or address the sponsor's concerns, leaving the future direction uncertain.