Beitar Jerusalem Denounces Maccabi Haifa CEO Over Community Award Dispute
Beitar Jerusalem sharply criticized Maccabi Haifa CEO Itzik Ovadia following a contentious dispute over the President's Award for community activity. The award was granted to Beitar Jerusalem after a closely contested selection process against Maccabi Haifa, which reportedly led to a re-vote before Beitar was declared the winner.
Beitar accused Ovadia of attempting to intimidate committee members with unusual and harsh messages after he struggled to accept the committee's decision. In an official statement, Beitar called Ovadia a "small CEO" for his conduct and emphasized that the award rightfully belongs to Beitar, while also acknowledging the valuable community work of Maccabi Haifa and other league teams.
Maccabi Haifa has not yet issued an official response to the serious allegations directed at their CEO. The incident highlights tensions between the two clubs following Beitar Jerusalem's historic receipt of the President's Award, which honors contributions to community engagement.
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