Top Israeli Referee Sapir Berman Fails Fitness Tests, Barred From Early Premier League Matches

Sapir Berman, one of Israel's leading football referees, failed the fitness tests conducted by the Referees Association at the Wingate Institute. As a result, she will be unable to officiate matches in the Israeli Premier League until she passes the next round of fitness evaluations. This failure affects only domestic league games; Berman remains eligible to referee international matches. Previously, she had failed the tests in 2023 but passed shortly afterward and continued officiating regularly. Berman is highly regarded in Israeli football, having recently refereed key matches such as the top playoff game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be'er Sheva, as well as the season's final match between Be'er Sheva and Beitar Jerusalem. It is also noted that she was not scheduled to referee in the upcoming weekend's matches due to postponements related to European playoffs. Once she passes the fitness tests, she will be allowed to return to officiating in the Premier League.