Maccabi Haifa Advises Fans to Arrive in Groups of Three for Match in Sakhnin

Ahead of their upcoming match against Bnei Sakhnin at the Doha Stadium in Sakhnin on Sunday, Maccabi Haifa has issued a safety advisory urging its fans to attend the game in groups of three or more. This precaution follows violent clashes between fans of the two teams during their previous encounter in Sakhnin last season, where Haifa supporters were outnumbered and fights broke out. The last match ended in a 3-3 draw.

The advisory sparked concern among some fans, with questions raised about the safety of Jewish supporters attending football matches within Israel. In response, Bnei Sakhnin's club released a statement welcoming Maccabi Haifa fans and promising to take all necessary measures to ensure a sporting atmosphere both inside and outside the stadium. They emphasized the positive history of sportsmanship between the clubs and expressed a commitment to focus on that.

The warning from Maccabi Haifa also comes after a serious incident earlier this year when dozens of masked Bnei Sakhnin fans stormed the team's training facility wielding sticks, verbally abusing players and staff, and attempting physical confrontation. This event led to the immediate resignation of Maccabi Haifa's coach Sharon Mimer, who stated that the situation had crossed all boundaries.

The clubs and authorities are now preparing for the upcoming match with heightened awareness of security concerns, aiming to prevent any recurrence of violence and maintain a safe environment for all attendees.