Watch the incident: Bnei Sakhnin fans disrespect the anthem, and continue to cheer demonstratively even during the singing of "Hatikva"/Walla!
The contempt of the national anthem by Bnei Sakhnin fans and the contempt towards Menashe Zalka were at the center of the game in which Hapoel Hadera won 0:1 this evening (Saturday).
Zalka responded: "I'm not the point, let them curse me and do what they want. But what happened in the anthem is a shame and disgrace. They humiliated it and it's infuriating. Because in the name of the flag and this anthem, quite a few IDF fighters are now fighting in Gaza and soldiers have been killed and there are grieving families.
That's the shame.
What they did to me, it's all nonsense.
I have the skin of an elephant.
It hurts me for other people, but 0:1 is small and sweet and it is for all the people of Israel.
I did not expect to receive applause, everything is perfectly fine."
The winning coach Haim Silves also commented on the matter: "I was in Sakhnin and I had a good time there.
It was jarring to see that they did not respect the anthem.
I don't expect them to sing, but at least they will listen and not despise.
There was defiance here and I didn't like it, but everyone will live their own life.
We answered on the field, that's the best answer."
The Hapoel Hadera coach said about the game: "Apparently there are no rules in football.
We didn't play smart, especially in the first half.
We didn't react correctly to the red card and we barely got into situations, unlike the second half where we worked better.
We were also lucky with a missed penalty and another chance they could have stung us.
Such journeys should end with character, we did not give up and the drama ended up being in our favor.
I need the points more than the whole universe, don't bother with the others.
We had a lot of difficulty with the way Sakhnin stood, but in the end there are three points and we are happy.
Proud of the players who came after a difficult week, were humble after the hype of Sami Ofer and we left happy."
Menashe Zalka with the fans/Shlomi Gabai
Bnei Sakhnin's coach, Sloboden Drapić: "Do I like Zalka personally, the crowd? Ask them, I don't get into it. We move on. We deserve to be in the top playoffs, we're there all the time. That wasn't the goal at the beginning of the season, but when you That's how close you want to be there."
Winger Mohamed Shekar: "We knew that no one would give it to us, we would have to take it. Soccer is cruel, sometimes you give a goal in the 90th minute and sometimes you concede. I have no complaints against anyone, everyone gave 100 percent. We held up well in 10 players from the 12th minute. We will come next week to take the points to be in the top playoffs. I don't know what the fans have against Zalka, we should ask them."
More on the same topic:
Haim Sylves
Hapoel Hadera
Menashe Zalka