Abner Biton Travels Europe for a Decade as Devoted Hapoel Be'er Sheva Fan

Abner Biton, 67, has spent the last ten years flying to every Hapoel Be'er Sheva match across Europe, embodying the ultimate dedicated fan. As the team nears qualification for the Champions League, Biton's passport is filled with stamps from major European cities like Paris, London, Munich, and Madrid. His travels have taken him to remote locations such as Kazakhstan and Albania, enduring long taxi rides and challenging conditions just to support his team.

Biton, who is preparing to retire from his job at the Dead Sea factories, lives out of suitcases during the football season, relying on a travel agent to arrange flights and accommodations. Despite occasional travel disruptions, including a recent strike at Ben Gurion Airport that delayed his return from Bucharest, he remains committed to attending every game. His family understands his passion, and recently one of his grandchildren was allowed to join him on his travels.

His dedication has not been without risks. In 2019, after a match in Kazakhstan, Biton was confronted by local thugs but managed to avoid harm by buying time and eventually escaping unharmed. On another occasion, he traveled five hours by taxi from Germany to Poland on Yom Kippur to catch a match, spending 500 euros on the ride. Biton also helped fellow fan Eliyahu Bergman, 76, experience European away games after decades of not traveling abroad.

Biton describes his journeys not as vacations but as a continuation of his commitment to Hapoel Be'er Sheva. He has witnessed the highs and lows of football fandom, including last-minute losses and the thrill of traveling to exotic places like Iceland. His passion is symbolized by his constant wearing of the team's red jersey and his self-description as a "full-time fan." Despite the bureaucratic hassle of frequently renewing his passport due to numerous stamps, Biton eagerly anticipates the upcoming decisive match against Sabah in Baku, hoping to make history with his club.

As he prepares for another flight and another game, Biton's story highlights the extraordinary lengths a devoted fan will go to support his team, turning football into a lifelong adventure across continents.