Israel Referees Association Issues Stern Warning to Coaches Following Cup Final Controversy

Ahead of the new football season in Israel, officials from the Referees Association emphasized the need for a change in the conduct of team coaching staff during a press conference. Giora Inbar, the association's chairman, referenced the controversial scenes at the end of the State Cup final between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be'er Sheva, stating that referees have received strict instructions to control the benches. Under these new guidelines, coaches who exhibit inappropriate behavior will face expulsion from the pitch and be forced to sit in the stands, and clubs are being advised to prepare for such scenarios. Furthermore, Ziv Adler, head of the professional committee, highlighted changes to the rules aimed at increasing the net playing time. These adjustments include requirements for players to take throw-ins quickly, goalkeepers to restart play promptly, and injured players to exit the pitch faster if possible to maintain the flow of the game. The Referees Association has set increasing the net playing time as a primary goal for the upcoming season, following a failure to meet this target last year.