Hapoel Petah Tikva Awaits Visa Clearance to Finalize Chipioca Songa Transfer to Portugal

Hapoel Petah Tikva suffered a 1-0 defeat to Ironi Tiberias in the opening round of the Premier League, with the club expressing strong frustration towards the refereeing. The team accused the officials of disrespect, particularly over the disallowed equalizing goal in the final minutes. Initially, the club claimed there was no reason to annul the goal and criticized referee Shnir Levi for reversing his decision despite a malfunctioning video review screen. However, after the refereeing team explained the offside call that led to the decision change, tensions eased slightly. The club also protested the short added time of five minutes, arguing the video review took nearly four minutes.

Hapoel Petah Tikva is still finalizing its squad. Bolivian defender Diego Aroyo, formerly of Shakhtar Donetsk, attended the match and is expected to sign officially and join training soon after his delayed release from Ukraine. Coach Omer Peretz continues to seek two more reinforcements. Meanwhile, Chipioca Songa is set to leave the club for Portuguese side Moreirense. The transfer deal is agreed upon, with Petah Tikva expected to receive around 800,000 euros plus future sale percentages. The only remaining obstacle is visa processing, which is anticipated to be resolved by midweek, allowing Songa to travel to Portugal and complete the signing.

Despite the disappointing results, about 900 loyal fans traveled to support the team in Nof HaGalil. The club is eager to end a streak of five consecutive losses, including Toto Cup matches, and aims to rebound in the next league game against Hapoel Jerusalem at home.