Hapoel Petah Tikva Protests Controversial VAR Offside Call in Season Opener Loss to Ironi Tiberias

Ironi Tiberias began the 2026/27 Israeli Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva on August 22, despite starting with a six-point deduction and several player suspensions. The winning goal came from a successful penalty by Itamar Shabiro. Near the end of the match, a potentially equalizing goal by Hapoel Petah Tikva was disallowed for an offside decision that sparked controversy. The VAR screen was reportedly black, preventing clear review, and the fourth official relied solely on information relayed through his earpiece.

Hapoel Petah Tikva player Omer Peretz criticized the decision, saying, "The referee did not see, the screen was black, he only relied on what was said to him in the earpiece." He also questioned the logic behind the offside call, noting no visible interference with the goalkeeper and called for more respect toward his team. Peretz added that the added time was insufficient and that the team’s roster was still incomplete due to a late start to preparations.

Ironi Tiberias captain Alon Ziv expressed satisfaction with the win, emphasizing the team's late season start and the collective effort shown on the pitch. He mentioned ongoing cooperation with the coaching staff and plans to sign two to three more foreign players soon, especially after losing player Badji. Hapoel Petah Tikva’s Roy David described the loss as disappointing but asked fans for patience, promising full commitment to the club.

Itamar Shabiro, who scored the penalty, highlighted the team’s focus on overcoming the point deduction and praised the club’s supportive environment. The match underscored tensions around VAR use and the challenges both teams face early in the season.