A disturbing incident unfolded in Haifa earlier this week, ahead of the eagerly anticipated match between Maccabi Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem.
A fan from Jerusalem, sporting an Omer Atzili jersey, was assaulted by dozens of Maccabi Haifa supporters. The fan was subjected to punches, spitting, and had his phone thrown away before his shirt was forcibly removed.
Following the attack, the police swiftly arrested the suspects involved. "We managed to identify and detain the individuals responsible and have returned the phone to the victim," a police statement read.
Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar condemned the violence, stating, "The brutality witnessed today on a football pitch in Haifa is deeply shocking. We commend the police for their quick response in apprehending those involved in this violent act. We must ensure that such violence does not recur on Israel's football fields."
Videos of the incident quickly spread across social media platforms, showcasing the assault.
The incident occurred near Sammy Ofer Stadium at a local mall, before the match where both teams are vying for positions close to the league leaders, Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir commented, "Violence has no place in sports, whether from law enforcement or fans. I commend the Israel Police for their swift and professional action in arresting the suspects and returning the stolen phone."
Avi Amar, whose son was brutally assaulted, spoke about the harrowing incident. He revealed, "My son is still terrified; he's experienced a real trauma. There were belts used in the attack that aren't seen in the video; he feared for his life thinking he might get stabbed."
Amar expressed his deep frustration with the security response, stating, "My son was beaten for seven minutes inside the mall. How did it come to this?" He also shared his personal anguish, admitting, "I couldn't sleep all night."
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