Hapoel Petah Tikva Admits Squad Weakened Amid Budget Cuts and Security Incident

Hapoel Petah Tikva acknowledged a decline in team strength this season due to a lower-than-expected budget, following their 2-0 home loss to Maccabi Netanya in the Toto Cup. The club is considering selling players Chifionga Songa and Roy David to finance new signings, although current offers for Songa are insufficient. Coach Omer Peretz openly stated that the team cannot aim for a top-six finish this season, citing that promised funds have not materialized and rival teams have strengthened.

The match was overshadowed by a serious security incident in the eastern stands, where a fan named Liam Talker was reportedly struck in the head with an iron rod by a security guard, requiring over 20 stitches and medical imaging. The club plans to investigate the event and may replace the security company or alter steward arrangements. The suspect, a security guard from East Jerusalem, is expected to be brought before a judge for an extended detention due to flight risk and dangerousness. He is also suspected of fleeing from police, evading capture for about 25 minutes.

On the sporting front, the club aims to recruit between three to five new players, with current targets including defender Roy Zarhin, whose transfer depends on a ruling regarding compensation fees, a foreign center-back possibly Diego Aroyo, and an additional attacking player. The club admits it has weakened while competitors have increased their budgets and improved their squads.