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Ophir Kriaf Says He Put Beitar First, and Explains His Views on Identity and Loyalty
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
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First reported by N12 · Jun 26, 2026
What happened
Ophir Kriaf discussed his loyalty to Beitar Jerusalem, saying he repeatedly cut his salary for the club and rejected offers from other teams. In a podcast interview, he also defended his comments about Beitar’s history, criticized attitudes toward Muslim players, and praised teammate Miguel Silva as his closest football friend.
- 01Kriaf retired in March after a brief spell at Ashdod.
- 02He said he repeatedly accepted pay cuts to help Beitar Jerusalem.
- 03He argued that Beitar’s anti-Muslim past was politically driven and exaggerated.
- 04He called Miguel Silva his closest football friend and praised him highly.
- 05He said Jerusalem players are more trustworthy than players from central Israel.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
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