Maccabi Tel Aviv FC have been fined NIS 20,000 by the IFA Disciplinary Court after being found guilty of responsibility for racist chanting by Maccabi fans during the league match against Hapoel Haifa. The club also received a suspended sentence of NIS 50,000 and one additional home-match ban in case of a recurrent conviction for such an offence.
Maccabi Tel Aviv's CEO Martin Bain expressed his displeasure at the fact that a plea bargain agreed upon with the IFA prosecution prior to the disciplinary hearing was ignored by the court, as he said in response to the punishment: "The fact a plea bargain is not respected at such ease and without an explanation is inconceivable. There are serious other flaws in the decision". Bain added, "I would like to highlight the fact that the chant in question was heard only once and that chant was voiced by a few dozens while thousands tried drowning them by a chorus of boos. This is a result of a process and actions which we had undertaken".
The club are considering an appeal.
