VAR triumph for Ligat Ha’Al

FOOTBALL VAR was successfully introduced in Israel’s Premier Division last weekend. The Video Assistant Referee made its debut in Saturday’s early kick-off which saw Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Hapoel Hadera 2-0, with second-half goals from Aaron Schoenfeld and Avi Rikan.

Runaway league leaders Maccabi were denied a first-half penalty by VAR but their hopes were boosted on the stroke of half-time when Hadera were reduced to ten men. Referee Shlomi Ben-Avraham reviewed an incident in which Hadera defender George Fochive stamped on the stomach of a Maccabi player, and pulled out a red card.

“I think VAR is an important addition to the game, even though it does stop the action from time to time,” said Maccabi’s Serbian manager Vladimir Ivic.

The win leaves Maccabi with a virtually unassailable 25-point lead, ahead of nearest rivals Maccabi Haifa. Victory over Haifa in the next match would assure Maccabi the league title.

A Maccabi win would end a three-year domination of Hapoel Beer Sheva, who are languishing in fourth place. The club is in complete disarray as owner Alona Barkat is set to become a Knesset member in Naftali Bennett’s New Right party. Barkat will remain owner of the club but will not be allowed to make executive decisions and she will appoint a chairman to run affairs.