Longtime Maccabi Tel Aviv Vendor Files $520,000 Lawsuit Over Kiosk Closure

Zion Bales, who operated the snack kiosk at Maccabi Tel Aviv's training complex in Kiryat Shalom for decades, has filed a lawsuit against the football club demanding 520,482 shekels in compensation. The claim, submitted to the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court through attorney Shay Elias, seeks 420,482 shekels based on average net profits from 2014 to 2020, plus 100,000 shekels for non-monetary damages and distress. Bales also requests the court to annul an authorization agreement signed in May 2002 and a 2016 volunteer declaration, arguing these documents are not binding contracts.

Bales has been associated with the training complex since the 1960s, initially renovating an unused shed into a kiosk with a promise he could operate it for life. However, in 2002, he signed a one-year authorization agreement under rushed and misleading circumstances, allegedly without fully understanding the document due to illiteracy. Despite the agreement's expiration in 2003, he continued running the kiosk with the club's knowledge until operations ceased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In December 2023, Bales received a notice demanding he clear out the kiosk within 14 days for demolition and replacement with a new structure. Claiming he was left without income or compensation, Bales sought legal recourse after failed negotiations. Maccabi Tel Aviv expressed great respect for Bales but maintained the eviction was lawful, denied any employment relationship, and invited him to discuss the matter with management. The dispute will now be resolved by the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court.