Bnei Sakhnin Players Attacked by Maccabi Netanya Fans After Match, Raising Racism Concerns

Bnei Sakhnin football players faced a violent incident following their away match against Maccabi Netanya on August 24, 2026. Despite securing a draw, at least two players, including defender Iyad Abu Abid and Ilai Hajaj, along with several fans, were attacked by a group of Maccabi Netanya supporters. Abu Abid reported feeling that his life was in danger as he was assaulted immediately after leaving the pitch, with attackers also damaging his vehicle. He was subsequently summoned to provide testimony at a police station, though no arrests have been reported so far.

Sources from Bnei Sakhnin described the attack as racially motivated, emphasizing that Abu Abid's identity as an Arab player was a factor in the assault. A club official expressed outrage, questioning whether politicians would now call for stadium closures, sarcastically comparing the situation to incidents in Doha. The official condemned the attack as a disgrace and challenged far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir to respond.

Despite the team's poor performance, Bnei Sakhnin's management and coaching staff, led by Yossi Abuksis, embraced the point earned from the match and remain optimistic that the team will improve in the coming weeks. The incident has sparked discussions about racism and security at Israeli football matches.