Maccabi Tel Aviv Fines Dispute: Leagues Board Stands Firm on Davida Sanction

The Professional Leagues Board expressed surprise on Wednesday over a letter sent by Maccabi Tel Aviv, which was published in the media, protesting the decision to fine Oshri Davida 10,000 shekels for his goal celebration during the derby against the Hapoel Tel Aviv fans.

The Board did not expect such a reaction from Maccabi Tel Aviv, and a conversation is expected today between the chairman of the Leagues Board, Erez Kalfon, and Maccabi Tel Aviv CEO Jack Angelidis.

Currently, the Board is not backing down from its decision to fine Davida. The goal is not the amount—which is anyway distributed among the other teams—but rather to ensure that players and club officials avoid any provocations in the future, so as not to reach a situation where an already explosive match might boil over.

On the other hand, the cup holder's camp made it clear that they would not pay the fine, but it is well known that money is transferred from the Board to the clubs, meaning that if a club is fined, it simply receives a lower amount from the Board. This indicates that a club cannot reach a situation where it entirely avoids paying a fine.

The Board does not intend to enter into a confrontation with Maccabi Tel Aviv. The goal is to manage the Premier League and ensure that matches finish on time on the pitch, without reaching a situation where a fan comes down from the stands to harm a player or a club official.

Regarding Maccabi Tel Aviv's claims in the letter that much more attention should be paid to Holocaust chants by Hapoel Tel Aviv fans, Board officials noted that this is handled by the tribunal, which relies on the observer's report submitted by the Board. The Board clarified that its role is not to fine clubs for fan behavior, as this falls under the jurisdiction of the courts, not the Board.