New Israeli Football Fans Association Forms to Improve Supporter Experience

For the first time in Israeli football history, an official Football Fans Association was established this week. This grassroots organization unites 11 fan clubs and supporter groups from across Israel, aiming to prioritize the fan experience both inside and outside stadiums. Member organizations include "Brothers to the Badge" (Maccabi Tel Aviv), "The Blue Brotherhood" (Hapoel Petah Tikva), "The Golds" (Bnei Yehuda), "The Northern Stand" (Maccabi Haifa), "Versamila" (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), and others representing clubs such as Hapoel Jerusalem, Ironi Kiryat Shmona, and Maccabi Petah Tikva.

The association’s goals include improving matchday conditions such as game scheduling, fan treatment, ticket and concession pricing, entry times, accessibility, and regulating supporter culture including pyrotechnics. They have already initiated dialogue with the Israeli Football Association and law enforcement to foster cooperation. Ben Buda, a representative of Versamila, explained the association’s origins from a three-year-old initiative responding to police violence against fans and emphasized the need for mutual respect and solutions to shared problems like policing, pyrotechnics bans, and high prices.

Buda highlighted ongoing discussions with the Football Association chairman Shinu Zohar and authorities from the police and Ministry of Culture and Sports. He stressed that fans currently feel disrespected due to long queues, poor crowd management, restricted items like water bottles, and high concession costs. The association seeks to create a respectful cultural experience to reduce conflicts with police.

Regarding pyrotechnics, Buda acknowledged the complexity of the issue and the need for regulated solutions rather than outright bans, which have led to heavy club penalties. He also noted plans for a delegation to visit Germany to study fan management models there, aiming to implement best practices in Israel. Despite sporting rivalries remaining on the field, the association unites fans on common interests.

Buda also praised Hapoel Be'er Sheva’s recent success in advancing to the Champions League playoff round after defeating Red Star Belgrade, expressing hope for continued progress despite a different team generation than in 2015/16.