Maccabi Tel Aviv Demands Sayed Abu Farhi Forgo Half a Million Dollars in Colorado Rapids Transfer

Behind the scenes of Sayed Abu Farhi's transfer to the Colorado Rapids, a Major League Soccer club, a dispute emerged over the player's contractual bonus. Abu Farhi's representatives revealed that Maccabi Tel Aviv conditioned the deal on the young forward relinquishing nearly half a million dollars owed to him under his contract. Abu Farhi, who recently started in Maccabi's Toto Cup semifinal win over Maccabi Netanya, has a clause entitling him to 17.5% of his transfer fee. Since Colorado offered $6 million, Abu Farhi was originally due $1.05 million.

Maccabi initially demanded he waive the entire amount, but after strong opposition from Abu Farhi's family, a compromise was reached. The player agreed to accept 10% of the transfer fee, approximately $600,000, forfeiting $450,000, allowing Maccabi to net $5.4 million from the deal. A Maccabi player commented that while the club expects players to honor contracts, it often tries to reclaim money owed to players, citing similar cases with Dor Turgeman and Roy Revivo.

Abu Farhi, who will earn about $450,000 annually in the U.S. during his first two seasons with a planned salary increase later, did not want to jeopardize the transfer and accepted the reduced bonus. He is currently awaiting his U.S. visa and will travel to complete medical tests and officially sign with Colorado Rapids once approved.