Sapir Berman takes a hit: The dramatic decision that endangers the continuation of her career
For the second time: The renowned referee did not pass the association's physical fitness tests and will be absent from the pitches in the near future, marking a dramatic moment for her new international status at UEFA.
A blow to one of the leading figures in Israeli football: referee Sapir Berman, who was the sensation of Israeli football last season, will not be able to officiate matches in the opening rounds of the Premier League after failing the physical fitness tests of the Israel Football Association's Referees Department held at the Wingate Institute.
This is the second time in her career that Berman has encountered this hurdle — the previous time occurred in July 2023 — but this is the first time it has happened under her status as an international referee.
Her absence from Premier League pitches at the start of the season does not endanger the continuation of her career. The Referees Department is expected to set another date for re-tests in the near future, and passing them will allow her to return immediately to officiating matches in the top league. In addition, the result of the local test does not affect her status in the UEFA organization, and she will be able to continue officiating in European competitions if invited to do so.
Berman began her career in the Referees Department in 2011, and in 2021 she revealed the gender transition process she underwent. Since then, she has established her position at the top of local officiating, refereed decisive matches in the Premier League and the State Cup, and in 2024 she even entered the UEFA international list. Now, her immediate goal is to pass the next testing date and return to the pitch, though there is no doubt that this situation poses a real threat to her refereeing career.
