Tiberias Fans Surprise by Supporting Hapoel Afula Against Ashdod in National League Opener

In an unexpected development in Israeli football, fan organizations of Ironi Tiberias have announced they will support Hapoel Afula in their home match against M.S. Ashdod. The game is scheduled for Tuesday at 19:30 and will be broadcast live on 5SPORT. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions between the clubs, particularly involving a legal dispute initiated by Ashdod to postpone their first National League match due to a controversy surrounding Tiberias. Ashdod sought to replace Tiberias in the Premier League following a doping scandal implicating the northern club. However, the court declined to intervene, allowing Ashdod to proceed with the match as planned.

Ironi Tiberias has been preparing for the season under the shadow of this scandal, which led the Israeli Sports Anti-Doping Agency to suspend several players and their coach, Eliran Hodeda. These suspensions have prevented the team from participating in the Toto Cup so far. The severity of the sanctions and whether they will extend to the entire team remain uncertain. Ironi Tiberias is set to begin their Premier League season on Saturday, hosting Hapoel Petah Tikva.

This surprising fan support for a rival team highlights the complex dynamics and tensions within Israeli football as the new season begins.