With no buyers on the horizon, Hapoel Tel Aviv, one of Israel’s most famous football clubs, faces liquidation and relegation.
The club’s fans have launched a crowdfunding campaign, but the £25,000 collected so far makes only a small dent in Hapoel’s £22million debt.
Earlier this month, the Tel Aviv District Court agreed to a stay-of-proceedings request by club owner Amir Kabiri for protection from creditors, and put Hapoel in the hands of a trustee.
But Judge Eitan Orenstein ruffled the feathers of the football authorities by ordering the Israel FA not to deduct nine points from Hapoel, as is customary for clubs seeking court protection from debt. The Israel FA is appealing against this to the Supreme Court. In any event, under UEFA regulations Hapoel will be banned from European
competition for three years.
If they cannot find a buyer and must be liquidated, they will be relegated by at least two divisions.
