Maccabi Petah Tikva Demands High Compensation from Kiryat Gat for Paz Shipman Transfer

A legal dispute has erupted between Maccabi Petah Tikva and newly promoted Liga Leumit club Maccabi Kiryat Gat over the transfer of 20-year-old forward Paz Shipman. Although Shipman signed with Kiryat Gat after being released by Petah Tikva in April 2026, he is currently barred from playing due to a compensation demand from his former club. Petah Tikva initially sought 100,000 shekels in development fees, later lowering the demand to 70,000 shekels, but then officially raised it to 180,000 shekels in a formal complaint to the Players Status Committee. Shipman, who spent the past two seasons on loan at Liga Leumit clubs Kafr Qasim and Maccabi Herzliya, claims this situation amounts to coercion and violates his right to work. His lawyer, Amir Cohen, criticized Petah Tikva for holding young players hostage with unreasonable compensation demands that hinder their careers. This dispute continues as Kiryat Gat works to finalize its squad following a 2-0 season-opening win against Akko.