The war behind the scenes at Ironi Tiberias: The owner sues his partner
First publication: While the club deals with the IV drip affair and hearings at the Football Association, another battle is taking place off the pitch. Miki Bitan, one of the owners of Ironi Tiberias, filed a lawsuit against his partner Aryeh Klemenzon following a business dispute. Bitan claims that moves were made to harm his rights in the joint company and dispossess him of his assets. Klemenzon responded by citing suspicions of criminal acts.
The crisis at Ironi Tiberias may spill far beyond the football pitch. Ynet has learned that Miki Bitan and Aryeh Klemenzon, who hold ownership of the club, are in the midst of a business dispute that has reached the Tel Aviv District Court — and it may eventually lead to a change in the ownership structure of the team.
While in Tiberias they are busy these days with the IV drip affair and the proceedings taking place in the Football Association's court, another struggle is being waged, this time in the civil arena. It is a dispute between the two partners, who have also been in a long-term relationship in the "Dorot" insurance company. The conflict was exposed following an open letter that Bitan sent to the company's clients.
Bitan, who was removed from the day-to-day management of the football club against the backdrop of the double contracts affair and is currently defined as a sponsor, remains a partner in the ownership of Ironi Tiberias. In a letter to his clients at the insurance company, Bitan claimed that the conflict with Klemenzon developed after about three decades of business partnership, and that in recent months, actions were taken intended to harm his rights in the company.
"To my great regret, these days I am forced to update you on serious events that occurred recently, so that you hear them from me — directly and accurately," wrote Bitan.
According to him, for about three decades he worked alongside Klemenzon and built the client portfolio and the agency's activity. Bitan claims that according to agreements that were explicit and documented, including recorded and written admissions by Klemenzon, he holds a third of the business, its profits, and its assets.
According to Bitan's claim, in recent months, against the backdrop of negotiations for the sale of the agency's activity, Klemenzon began to act unilaterally with the goal of depriving him of his rights. As part of the lawsuit filed to the Tel Aviv District Court, Bitan claims that joint signature authorizations were canceled and that Klemenzon exclusively took over the company's accounts and commission activity. Bitan further claimed that a request was filed to freeze his user in the insurance companies' systems and to disconnect him from them, including blocking his access to his personal email and his mobile phone number of 20 years.
"I turned to the court with a lawsuit and an urgent request for temporary relief, supported by documents, recordings, and written evidence. I am confident that the truth will come to light and that my rights will be protected," he wrote.
Klemenzon responded:
"Starting from June 1st, Miki Bitan has no active role, directly or indirectly, in the management of the club and the team. Unfortunately, recently serious suspicions bordering on criminal have been discovered regarding illegal money transfers. The matter is currently being investigated and Miki at this stage is also suspended from any activity in the Dorot group. Furthermore, Miki was never a business partner or shareholder in the Dorot group."
