The Constitution Committee of the Knesset landed on Israeli football and basketball a not-so-simple blow, when it decided not to exclude the training of professional teams during the closure period • Meaning: Premier League teams are suspended until further notice
Maccabi Netanya is celebrating.
Not during the closure period
Photography:
Bernie Ardov
The Knesset's Constitution Committee landed a blow to Israeli basketball when it decided not to exclude the training of professional teams during the closure period.
Meaning: Premier League football and basketball teams are suspended until further notice and it is unclear when the professional leagues will return to activity.
At this point, the next two league rounds were immediately postponed.
The football league manager's plan to hold a league round on October 17 has been shelved.
Already last Friday, when the closure took effect, the teams stopped training, with the exception of the clubs that participate in the international frameworks.
The chairman of the league, Erez Kalfon, made great efforts together with a number of Knesset members, including Yoel Rezbozov of the Yesh Atid faction, in order to change Health Minister Yuli Edelstein's decision and exclude the training of professional teams. Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Itamar Grotto, heard from the members of the Constitution Committee that they are in favor of returning the training, but things fell on the sealed ears of Edelstein who stood on his hind legs.
In the discussion itself, Grotto presented a position according to which players in the Premier League have also been infected and in a number of clubs, including Maccabi Tel Aviv. At the same time, a situation has arisen where Maccabi Tel Aviv can continue its activities as usual, as it participates in the Europa League. The teams, most of the players healthy and not sick in Corona, are disabled.
"The Minister of Health is completely detached from the sporting reality and it is a pity, he may kill entire industries and it will cost the country hundreds of millions of shekels and at the same time severely hurt football and basketball. Besides, leave people at home and now also see Israeli sports prevented from them."
Alongside these things, league chairman Erez Kalfon made it clear that he will do everything in his power to change the decision soon, perhaps as early as next week. Some of the Premier League football teams are already considering releasing the players to the squad.
Other teams may start releasing players if no solutions are found and the games return soon.