Hapoel Petah Tikva Investigates Brutal Security Staff Assault on Fans During Toto Cup Match

Hapoel Petah Tikva suffered a 2-0 defeat to Maccabi Netanya on Wednesday in the Toto Cup group stage, but the main controversy unfolded off the pitch. During halftime, several club fans were violently attacked by security personnel from the company responsible for match security. One fan was struck in the head and body with an iron rod by a security guard and was hospitalized overnight in moderate condition at Beilinson Hospital. The club is maintaining close contact with the injured fan and his family.

Three security guards were arrested by police on Wednesday night and are expected to be questioned further. The club's initial investigation revealed that some members of the security team were unfit for their roles. A club official stated, "This was a specific team that simply misbehaved. We have all their details with the police, and some have already been arrested. This was very poor personnel who have never worked for us before and will not work for us in the future. We are reviewing all staffing decisions and will draw all necessary conclusions."

Despite the incident, Hapoel Petah Tikva emphasized that the security company, which regularly works with the club and other top-tier teams like Hapoel Tel Aviv, is generally reputable. The club plans to conduct a thorough inquiry with the security company’s leadership to hold all responsible security staff accountable for the violent episode.