Controversial Penalty Secures Win for Maccabi Yavne Against M.K. Kfar Saba

In a fiercely contested match on Friday, Maccabi Yavne celebrated a critical late-game penalty decision in their seventh game of the Liga Aleph South, defeating M.K. Kfar Saba 1928 amidst heated reactions from fans.

Dramatic Match Turnaround

As the clock approached the 90th minute, Yovel Ben Ami was trying to find a gap in Kfar Saba’s defense when he was allegedly stepped on by Guy Monastirsky. The referee, Ofek Malka, initially ruled a free kick from roughly 16 meters away from Ben Weitzman’s goal. However, assistant referee Itai Katz intervened, suggesting that the foul occurred at the edge of the penalty area. This led to a contentious penalty being awarded to Maccabi Yavne.

Kfar Saba’s players and fans were discontent with the reversal of the call, feeling it was difficult to definitively ascertain the precise location of the foul, even with video footage reviewed by the refereeing association.

Penalty Details

Kobi Mor stepped up to take the penalty, striking the ball accurately into the right corner of the goal as Weitzman dove to the opposite side. Following the goal, Mor and his teammate Dan Ovadia directed their celebrations toward the Kfar Saba supporters, igniting an altercation among the crowd.

After the match, Kfar Saba coach Tal Safar did not address the incident directly but commented to start, “There is a lot to improve; talking about it does not help.”

Referee Association’s Response

In response to inquiries from start, the Referee Association stated, “The incident was reviewed by the officiating committee for Liga Aleph and Bet. The referee correctly identified the stepping foul and, in collaboration with the assistant referee, deemed that the foul occurred at the edge of the penalty area, leading to the decision for a penalty kick. The camera angle does not allow for a definitive conclusion about whether the foul occurred inside or just outside the area. However, the situation was borderline, and the decision is supported.”

The outcome of this match not only highlights the contentious and high-pressure nature of football but also raises questions about officiating consistency and support in crucial moments of the game.