Maccabi clubs’ anger over derby clash
to budge so as a team we will be watching the Spurs game together after ours.
“They must know we have a few Tottenham and Chelsea boys in our squad, and they thought they would try to get the upper hand in regards to keeping the kick-off at the time which is best suited to them. But fortunately enough for us our boys are fully committed to the Harmen cause and have given up their ticket to the game to play on Sunday.”
Hendon’s David Garbacz responded: “Harmen asked for a later start under the Hadley floodlights, which we were unfortunately unable to accommodate.
“None of our players will be affected – they will play for us then go home and watch the game.”
FC Team B’s Mitch Young believes that Maccabi League football comes first. “Whoever you play for or manage should always come ahead of a professional team you support,” he said.
“Your own individual successes and achievements far outweigh that of a professional footballer or team you follow.”
Scrabble FC’s Ray Abrahams described the clash as “another example of where money and television are more important to the big boys than grass-roots football”.
He said: “I’m fortunate that my team is intact. Some of my players own season tickets at Tottenham, but want to play football as a priority. We always stress commitment.
“If you sign for a club you know that these situations may occur and I would have seen it as letting their team-mates and me down, and a sign of a lack of commitment to the club if they’d have chosen going to Spurs over playing.
Hendon will watch game at home
“I don’t think clubs should be allowed to pull out of games for this situation as they join a league and know the rules at the start of the season.
“It will be interesting if there are any odd results this weekend because of this. I believe it will impact badly on Sunday morning football to allow the professional clubs to kick-off at this time.”
But it’s not only the players and teams who have been affected. Referee’s Secretary Andy Myerson said: “It’s going to be a real struggle to get the games covered this weekend.
“I have five referees who will be at the Spurs game and four out injured, so it’s not just the teams who struggle with absentees.”
A spokesman for BT Sport described the clash as “unfortunate” and confirmed the scheduling of the London derby, which was originally set to take place on Saturday, was down to “a complex process regarding both club’s European football commitments”.