Tiberias Football Club Faces Initial Hearing in Match-Fixing Case Ahead of New Season

The Tiberias football team appeared on August 5, 2026, at the Israeli Football Association's disciplinary court for the first hearing concerning a match-fixing scandal. The club was represented by attorneys Eyal Yaffe and Zion Amir, with the hearing presided over by chief adjudicator Noam Liubin. The association's prosecutor, Gilad Bergman, also participated.

Bergman criticized delays in the process, questioning why it took three days to approve the investigation materials and why a related petition to the Supreme Court had not yet been filed. He emphasized the importance of expediting the proceedings, especially with the new league season approaching in August, and requested that any preliminary motions be submitted alongside the defense statement to speed up the case.

Attorney Amir responded that Tiberias had not yet received all the investigation materials, including a list of prosecution witnesses, which he described as essential and not a mere formality. During the hearing, a lawyer from Ashdod, Noa Milshtein, intervened, leading to a tense exchange and a temporary suspension of the session.

After the break, Amir argued that Hapoel Jerusalem, another implicated team absent from the hearing, was more involved in the case than Ashdod. Bergman accused the defense of using procedural tactics to delay the league's start, while Amir requested 14 days from receipt of all materials to prepare a proper defense.

Chief adjudicator Liubin concluded that the parties would submit their requests by the next day, after which a schedule would be set, allowing approximately 14 days for preparations. The first evidentiary hearing is expected to take place only after the league begins, complicating the possibility of Tiberias being relegated before the season starts.