Beitar Jerusalem Accuses Maccabi Haifa CEO Itzik Ovadia of Undermining Club in President's Award Contest

Beitar Jerusalem issued a sharp public statement on August 17, 2026, condemning Maccabi Haifa CEO Itzik Ovadia amid controversy over the President's Award competition. The dispute arose during the award selection process, which saw a tight contest between Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Haifa. Although Maccabi Haifa initially led the voting, a re-vote was held, resulting in Beitar Jerusalem winning the prize from the capital city.

Following the decision, Beitar Jerusalem accused Ovadia of opposing the committee's choice and sending aggressive messages attempting to intimidate the community prize process. The club's official statement called Ovadia a "small CEO" despite Maccabi Haifa's stature and criticized his conduct as unusual and harsh.

The award committee included notable figures such as Andy Ram, Batel Jarbi, Nurit Sharvit, Itzik Sasportas, Nir Chen, Oren Avraham, and Ashraf Halabi, who collectively decided to honor Beitar Jerusalem. The incident highlights tensions between the two clubs during this prestigious recognition event.