2024-02-21 13:18:45
A mess in Israeli sports: The Israel Police announced today (Wednesday) that they will not be able to secure the sports games on the day of the local authority elections that will be held next week on Tuesday, February 27.
The police explained the announcement by saying that due to a significant load on election day – which requires the reinforcement of police forces all over the country – they will not be able to meet the needs of the sports games. As a result, they demand that no sporting events be held on election day.
This announcement will cause a serious problem on a day for which quite a number of games were scheduled. Among other things, this is the round of 16 of the State Cup in soccer, in addition to the match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Urban Ramat Gan in the Winner Basket League.
Roman Sorkin, will the game against Ramat Gan be cancelled? (Roi Kafir)
At the center of the games in the State Cup that are planned to take place on Tuesday is the meeting between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Jaffa. In addition, Maccabi Netanya is scheduled to meet Hapoel Jerusalem, Hapoel Nof HaGalil against Hapoel Rishon LeZion and Hapoel Haifa against Maccabi Petah Tikva.
The reaction of the football association: “Today we received the letter from the commissioner stating that the Israel Police will not be able to secure sports events on February 27, the date of the elections for the local authorities. We are working with all the relevant parties in view of the clear statement of the Israel Police, in order to make an informed decision, with the safety of all the participants at the forefront of our minds.’
The full letter from the Commissioner of Police
“On February 27, 2024, the elections for local authorities and regional councils will be held. On the same day, the sports events detailed below are scheduled to take place: 4 games of the eighth stage of the final of the State Cup in soccer. Game within the Super League in football: Maccabi Ramat Gan – Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Matan Chuz is frustrated, will the game on Tuesday be cancelled? (Oren Ben Hakon)
“Since the events of the Seven Days in October and the declaration of the ‘Iron Swords’ war, the Israel Police has been operating all over the country with significant forces, despite the extensive recruitment, the losses it suffered in the war and the multitude of tasks added to it in its wake.”
He added: “At the same time, the Israel Police is preparing with increased forces for the elections to the local authorities, in order to ensure a proper election process and maintain public order and public safety. During election day, which is established by law as a Sabbath day, approximately 19,000 police officers from all police districts will be on duty, including reinforcements of police officers from the headquarters.
“On February 7, 2024, a representative of the Security and Licensing Division of the police contacted the Football Association with a request to postpone the games scheduled for election day. This request was answered in the negative by the director of the competitions department and the general director of the association.
“In view of the extensive operational preparation of the Israel Police during the war and the extent of the forces that will operate during election day, it will not be possible to station police forces at the sports events. Therefore, we ask you to act as soon as possible to postpone the games listed above to another date, or alternatively to hold them without an audience.”
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