Hapoel Tel Aviv Drops All Legal Proceedings Against Fans Ahead of New Season

Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball club is attempting to calm tensions with its fan base ahead of the 2026/27 season. In an official statement released by the club on Monday, management announced—under the direction of Chairman Stav Shaham—the adoption of an unambiguous and rather unusual policy in Israeli sports: the club is completely halting all legal proceedings against its fans and immediately canceling all existing warning letters previously sent out.

Opening a New Chapter

The club chose to frame the initiative under the banner of "turning a new leaf" in the spirit of the holiday season. The spokesperson's statement clarified that the primary goal is to resolve any future disputes through direct dialogue rather than exhausting legal battles. Furthermore, it was emphasized that in all currently pending legal proceedings, the club is a defendant rather than a plaintiff, but any initiated proceedings or warning letters on behalf of the club are null and void.

"We are opening a new page," declared Chairman Stav Shaham. "Even when there are disagreements, our path must be dialogue, discussion, and the realization that we are all part of the same community. The place for Hapoel fans is with us in the stands, not facing the club in court. In the spirit of the month of forgiveness, it is time to leave these things behind and move forward together."

Upcoming Derby Challenge

This move comes against the backdrop of a particularly turbulent period in relations between club management and fan organizations, which included public clashes, personal lawsuits, and protests regarding season ticket prices and the move to Menora Mivtachim Arena. Recently, the ownership structure underwent a change when Ofer Yanai reduced his stake to 40%, management authorities were handed over to Shaham, and CEO Oren Hasson stepped down after just nine days. Management now hopes this step will open the door to genuine reconciliation ahead of the season opener, as the Reds face a fiery Supercup derby clash against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday.