Beitar Jerusalem Criticizes Maccabi Haifa CEO After President's Award Controversy
Following Beitar Jerusalem's receipt of the President's Award for community contribution, the club issued a sharp statement targeting Maccabi Haifa CEO Itzik Ovadia. The statement, released on August 17, 2026, condemned Ovadia for sending "exceptional and harsh" messages to the award committee after Maccabi Haifa was not selected. Beitar Jerusalem praised the award as recognition of their intensive community work and expressed surprise that a CEO of a major club would attempt to intimidate a community-focused prize committee. The club emphasized that the award was rightly given and acknowledged the community efforts of Maccabi Haifa and other league teams. This public rebuke marks an unprecedented attack in Israeli football circles following the award ceremony held the previous day.
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