Hapoel Petah Tikva Appeals Technical Defeat in 12-Player Substitution Case
Hapoel Petah Tikva has appealed to the IFA Supreme Court to overturn a technical defeat over a 12-player substitution error against Netanya, citing referee accountability and global precedents.
A month has passed since Hapoel Petah Tikva played to a 1:1 draw against Netanya, but for the club, the legal battle over the match result is far from over. On Monday morning, the club submitted an extensive 67-page appeal and appendices to the Israel Football Association's Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the technical defeat ruled against them for fielding 12 players.
The incident occurred during stoppage time of the match against Netanya, when a botched triple substitution left Roie Levi on the pitch while his team was already playing with an extra man. Consequently, the disciplinary court handed down a 3:0 technical defeat against Petah Tikva, stripping them of a hard-earned point following a difficult start to the season.
In their appeal, the club argues that responsibility for the mishap lies partly with the officiating crew, pointing out that the substitution procedure did not comply with the laws of the game. According to IFAB regulations, a substitute may only enter the field after the substituted player has left and with the referee's permission. Petah Tikva maintains this was a procedural error rather than a violation warranting a severe technical loss.
Despite the club's arguments, the disciplinary court previously convicted them of fielding an ineligible player, even though the association's prosecutor, Adv. Gilad Bergman, noted during the proceedings that the circumstances did not justify a technical defeat. The club now hopes the Supreme Court will review the shared responsibility and soften the penalty.
Additionally, Hapoel Petah Tikva released a video highlighting similar precedents in world football where results achieved on the pitch stood despite temporary numerical irregularities, citing a 2022 incident involving Bayern Munich against Freiburg. The club awaits a ruling that could significantly impact both their standing and Netanya's position in the table.
