The decision regarding the transfer of Maccabi Tel Aviv's tickets to Hapoel Tel Aviv for Game 1 of the basket final went to the ICC. A serious indictment was filed today (Tuesday) by Israel Basketball Association prosecutor Itamar Lipner, who is demanding that Maccabi Tel Aviv be fined and threatening a technical loss ruling as instructed by the association's regulations, as long as the Yellows insist on their refusal to transfer tickets to Hapoel Tel Aviv fans.
As advertised this morning in Walla! Sports Even before the indictment is filed, the hearing is scheduled to take place only on Wednesday morning due to constraints on the part of the judges, despite the fact that the game is supposed to take place in two days (Thursday, 21:15).
The court intervenes in light of the refusal of the yellows. Shimon Mizrahi (Photo: Liron Moldovan)
The prosecutor clarified that Maccabi Tel Aviv still has an opportunity to transfer the 1,500 tickets as is customary and avoid prosecution, otherwise he will demand that it be fined for misconduct. The prosecutor also demanded that responsibility for the game be transferred to the league administration in light of the exceptional circumstances and Maccabi Tel Aviv's refusal to take upon itself the management of the event, so that the administration would be responsible, among other things, for seating the audience in the stands and creating a separation between the parties.
The prosecutor also threatened that "if Maccabi Tel Aviv refuses, continues to do justice for itself and does not transfer the tickets to Hapoel Tel Aviv by virtue of the regulations, I will be forced to prosecute it for violating the union's bylaws, with all that this entails (including automatic technical loss by virtue of the disciplinary regulations)."
Will they come to Derby? Fans of Hapoel Tel Aviv (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)
Throughout the morning, the league administration tried to reach certain compromises with Maccabi Tel Aviv on the issue, but all compromises were refused. Board members of the Basketball Association as well as directors of the league administration tried to be the mediator who would put an end to the saga, but the Yellows stand their ground and demand that in order to pass the tickets, they demand that someone be responsible for each hazard. Maccabi also rejected the possibility that the league administration would be responsible and distribute the stands according to its decision.
At the same time, Maccabi Tel Aviv complained against Hapoel Tel Aviv, and the club wrote in response to Hapoel Tel Aviv's letter to the plaintiff: "It is inconceivable that a small and violent minority of 'rioters' would endanger the lives of thousands, deter families and people from the community from attending basketball games, and fundamentally disrupt the existence of a sporting event. Maccabi Tel Aviv again warned in detailed letters to all the competent bodies - the ministers of labor and public security, the commanders of the police and fire district, the heads of the union and the administration. Under these circumstances, forcing Maccabi Tel Aviv to sell tickets to Hapoel Tel Aviv fans, as required by Hapoel Tel Aviv's complaint, would be an act of folly, illogical and manifestly unreasonable, in light of the clear and immediate danger to human life. And by virtue of Hapoel Tel Aviv's responsibility for the unbridled behavior of its fans, disciplinary action must be brought immediately, and a ruling must be made that Maccabi Tel Aviv will be prohibited from selling tickets to Hapoel Tel Aviv fans at Maccabi Tel Aviv's home games."
The Secretariat also criticized Maccabi Tel Aviv's conduct this morning, announcing: "We call on Maccabi Tel Aviv to transfer the required amount of tickets to Hapoel Tel Aviv before the matter goes to the court for a decision. At the same time, we demand that both teams ensure an exemplary arrangement with their audiences in order to deliver the series in a sporting and dignified manner. Should there be disturbances of any kind, we will act to impose heavy penalties, including penalties that will affect the current series."
- sport
- basketball
- League
Tags
- Hapoel Tel Aviv Basketball
- Danny Franco