Maccabi Haifa Defeats Hapoel Ramat Gan 2-1 Amid Controversy Over Time-Wasting and Refereeing

Maccabi Haifa secured a 2-1 victory over Hapoel Ramat Gan at Sammy Ofer Stadium in the opening round of the season on August 22, 2026. Hapoel Ramat Gan, coached by Massai Dago, mainly defended in the first half but improved significantly in the second half, narrowing the score and coming close to equalizing. Despite their efforts, they fell short and expressed frustration over Maccabi Haifa's time-wasting tactics in the final minutes, which they said reflected the nature of the match.

After the game, Hapoel Ramat Gan officials and coach Dago criticized the refereeing team led by Omer Biran, alleging unfair decisions including a penalty awarded to Maccabi Haifa, the corner kick that led to the first goal, and other questionable calls. The club's management supported Dago's claims of being wronged during the match.

Looking ahead, Maccabi Haifa will regain their captain, Jota, for their next game against Hapoel Be'er Sheva, with Matan Hozez also potentially returning to the squad. Meanwhile, Hapoel Ramat Gan is working to strengthen their roster and is in talks with Ironi Tiberias regarding goalkeeper Ido Sharon, as revealed by Sport Channel. The club remains optimistic about improving cohesion and performance as the season progresses.