Premier League Footballer Denies Illegal Betting Allegations After Arrest

A player in Israel’s top football league was arrested on Sunday morning on suspicion of illegal betting, match-fixing, money laundering and tax offenses committed together with others. He was stopped at Ben Gurion Airport shortly before leaving the country and is due to be brought at 2:00 p.m. for an extension of his remand.

In his first response, the player denied all allegations. “The things published about me are not true,” he said, adding that he is fully cooperating with every review and investigation so the truth will come out quickly. He also said he expects that after the facts are examined it will become clear that he has “no connection” to the allegations and that he hopes to return to the pitch.

His lawyer, Batel Sheriki, said the case is only at an early stage and urged the public and media not to rush to judgment. She said her client is cooperating fully, has given his version, and is acting transparently in order to clear his name. She added that he is a “normative person” and warned that unsupported claims could seriously damage his reputation and affect his family.

Police say the investigation, conducted for months and kept covert until now, uncovered suspicion that the player repeatedly placed unlawful bets that were inappropriate for an active top-division footballer. Lahav 433 also suspects a known local criminal serving prison time ran a blackmail network whose members, among other things, extorted the footballer. A police statement said the case is still developing, more suspects may be questioned, and additional arrests were made last week. The probe is being handled by Lahav 433 North in cooperation with the Israeli Football Association.