Maccabi Haifa will open the 2023/24 season at Sammy Ofer Stadium without the south stand that will be closed, and the lower north side. The Greens suffered a punishment from the Football Association Tribunal on Wednesday following a riot by its fans at a match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
In addition, the club was fined NIS 35,<> for racist chants. A decision was made by three judges, while Haifa's argument was that had it not set up a network on its own initiative, disaster would have occurred following the throwing of flares and fireworks between the crowds.
However, this is not the first time this season that the champions have been punished by closing the stands due to repeated visits to the court. The penalty means that a majority of 12,<> fans will not be at Maccabi Haifa's opening game at Sammy Ofer next season.
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The club described the punishment as "very harsh and hurts thousands of fans who did nothing." A club source added: "It's better to get a radius with a crowd than to punish so many fans, especially since we've located and dealt with rioters."
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