Ironi Tiberias Financial Officer Questioned in "Mirror Image" Probe
The financial officer of Ironi Tiberias was questioned in the "Mirror Image" corruption probe involving tens of millions of shekels in undisclosed player contracts.
The financial officer of the Ironi Tiberias football association was questioned as part of the "Mirror Image" investigation and released under restrictive conditions, Walla reported on Tuesday. The probe is being conducted by the bribery and sports betting unit at Lahav 433, focusing on suspicions of managing a dual-contract system and concealing player salaries over four seasons, amounting to tens of millions of shekels.
The high-profile investigation came to light on Sunday with the arrest of club owner Arie Klemanzon, his former partner Miki Bitan, former coach Eliran Hudeda, and financial staff member Yael Bar. The arrests followed months of covert investigation conducted in cooperation with the Israel Football Association, the Diamond Unit at the Tax Authority, National Insurance, and the Registrar of Associations.
Core Suspicions and Investigation Scope
The central suspicion revolves around contracts submitted to the Budgetary Control Committee that allegedly failed to reflect the full financial commitments made to players. According to the investigation, alongside official contracts, supplementary agreements included additional payments, with portions of the actual salaries remaining unreported to tax authorities. Charges under review include fraud, false registration, forgery, money laundering, and tax and insurance offenses.
As part of the inquiry, current and former Ironi Tiberias players were questioned under caution on suspicion of signing dual contracts and omitting income. Reports indicate that some players admitted to suspicions regarding their personal contracts. Additionally, Budgetary Control Committee Chairperson Sigalit Seig provided testimony during the covert phase regarding accumulated information on the club's financial conduct.
Court Proceedings and Club Operations
During remand hearings at the Rishon LeZion Magistrates' Court, police argued there was a risk of obstruction of justice. Klemanzon's defense maintained that he acted as a passive investor without managing daily finances, while Bitan's attorney emphasized his cooperation with investigators. Judge Menachem Mizrahi ruled that reasonable suspicion links the suspects to the alleged offenses.
The remands of Klemanzon, Bitan, and Hudeda were extended until Thursday, October 22, while Bar's detention was set through Wednesday, October 21. Meanwhile, Ironi Tiberias resumed training, and frozen club accounts were thawed to ensure operational continuity under the supervision of appointed trustee Liza Hadash.
