Tiberias Football Club Faces Initial Hearing in Match-Fixing Case Ahead of League Start

The Tiberias football club appeared on August 5, 2026, at the Israel Football Association court for the first hearing in the match-fixing scandal. Represented by lawyers Eyal Yaffe and Zion Amir, the club faced the association's prosecutor Gilad Bergman, with the session presided over by chief adjudicator Noam Liubin. The hearing aimed to establish the procedural timeline for the case.

Prosecutor Bergman expressed frustration over delays in receiving investigation materials and the pending submission of a petition to the Supreme Court intended to halt the proceedings. He emphasized the shared interest in expediting the process, especially with the league's August start approaching, and suggested that preliminary requests be submitted alongside the defense to facilitate swift handling.

Defense attorney Amir countered that they had not yet received all necessary materials, including the prosecution's witness list, which he described as a substantive issue rather than a mere formality. The hearing saw tension rise when Ashdod's lawyer Noa Milstein intervened, prompting Amir to accuse her of overstepping. After a break, Amir highlighted that Hapoel Jerusalem, another implicated team, was absent, arguing they should be involved as a party more so than Ashdod.

Bergman accused the defense of using procedural tactics to delay the league's start, while Amir requested 14 days from receipt of all materials to prepare a proper defense. Adjudicator Liubin concluded that the parties would submit their requests by the next day, after which a schedule would be set, allowing roughly 14 days to prepare evidence and coordinate dates.

The hearing's outcome suggests that the first evidentiary session will likely occur only after the league begins, complicating the possibility of Tiberias being relegated to the second division before the season starts.