Bnot Netanya Starts Season With Only 10 Players Amid Registration Issues

In an unusual start to the 2026/27 Israeli Women's Premier League season, Bnot Netanya faced Maccabi Holon in the first official match of the season with only 10 players available. The team fielded nine outfield players and one goalkeeper, with no substitutes on the bench. Four of the ten players were youth players. This shortage was due to new and foreign players not yet being registered with the football association's control, rendering them ineligible to play.

The situation reflects ongoing uncertainty about Bnot Netanya's participation in the upcoming season. The club has struggled to obtain official approval, and there have been unofficial approaches to Panthers Ashdod, a team relegated last season, to prepare for a possible return to the Premier League. Despite signing several foreign players who are already in Israel, Bnot Netanya has not succeeded in registering them in time.

The match was part of the opening round of the Athena Cup, which began on August 20, 2026. Due to the limited squad, Bnot Netanya could not make any substitutions during the game. A source from the women's league commented on the incident, calling it "the disgrace of women's football in Israel never ends."