Bnei Sakhnin Appeals to Israeli Football Association After Player Attacks in Violent Match Incident

Following violent incidents at the end of the match against Maccabi Netanya at the 'Miriam' Stadium, Bnei Sakhnin chairman Khaled Dooki sent a sharp letter to the Israeli Football Association chairman Moshe (Shino) Zwartz and league officials. Dooki detailed how players Iyad Abu Abid and Ilai Hajaj were attacked in their vehicles, emphasizing that the violence crossed a non-sporting line. He stressed the need to identify, prosecute, and ban the perpetrators from football venues, especially since Hajaj was attacked while his pregnant wife was beside him.

Bnei Sakhnin demanded direct, coordinated work with the Israel Police and appointment of a dedicated professional to handle security. The club also called for immediate preservation of all security footage and event logs from the stadium, fearing potential deletion of recordings. They highlighted that penalties against clubs or closing stands target organizations, but true deterrence requires personal accountability for the offenders.

Beyond addressing this specific incident, Sakhnin urged a conceptual shift in handling sensitive away games. They proposed mandatory arrangements including separate, secure parking for visiting players and staff, full separation of exit routes from local fans, and controlled delay of home crowd dispersal until visitors leave safely. The club clarified that they do not blame all Maccabi Netanya fans but stressed the need for thorough measures to prevent disasters.

In response, Israeli Football Association chairman Moshe (Shino) Zwartz strongly condemned the criminal acts against the Bnei Sakhnin players. He confirmed phone conversations with Abu Abid and Hajaj to offer support and noted the incident follows another violent attack by Hapoel Jerusalem fans after a match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Zwartz welcomed the willingness of Netanya and Maccabi Tel Aviv clubs to act against offenders and pledged full cooperation with the league and police. He acknowledged the worrying frequency of violent events early in the season and committed to implementing the concrete proposals from Sakhnin to ensure player and fan safety at matches.