Loss of Control in the Stands: Violent Clashes in Petah Tikva, Steward Hits Fan with a Bar

Violent clashes broke out between Hapoel Petah Tikva fans and stewards at the Shlomo Bituach Stadium. One steward was filmed hitting a fan with an iron bar, who was evacuated to the hospital in moderate-to-mild condition. According to testimonies, racist remarks were made by fans, who also threw chairs. Three stewards were arrested, one of them a resident of East Jerusalem. The fans claim they refused to come down from the stage that was approved for them and were attacked.

A serious incident occurred this evening (Wednesday) at the Shlomo Bituach Stadium in Petah Tikva, when Hapoel Petah Tikva fans and stewards clashed in the stands. One steward was filmed hitting a fan with an iron bar, who was evacuated to the hospital in moderate-to-mild condition. According to testimonies, the incident was preceded by exchanges between fans and stewards, during which racist remarks were made by fans toward the stewards and security guards, and chairs were thrown. The confrontation escalated until YSM forces had to enter the stands to restore order. During the brawl, a bar struck a fan's head and a chair broke on another fan, while a few fans attacked stewards with fists. Following the brawl, three stewards were arrested, one of them, the one who struck the bar on a fan's head, is a resident of East Jerusalem. The security manager was asked to transfer the credentials of all stewards to police investigators. According to other testimonies from Hapoel Petah Tikva fans, the stewards asked members of the fan organization to come down from the stage that had been approved for them beforehand, they refused claiming the stage was already approved, and from there the stewards began cursing and the story escalated.