Prior to the start of the match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv, pyrotechnic devices (flares, fireworks, and smoke grenades) were ignited in the Hapoel fans' section, some were thrown toward fans and police officers, causing injuries and cancellation of the match. The Disciplinary Court of the Israeli Football Association convicted Hapoel of racist chanting, failure to fulfill the hosting club's obligations and fan rioting under aggravated circumstances.
The Court refused to hear the case and held that the disciplinary Court of the Israeli Football Association has exclusive Jurisdiction. Pursuant to the Israeli Sports Law, the exclusive jurisdiction to deliberate and decide on matters related to activities within an association or sports club is vested in the designated internal judicial bodies. Furthermore, the legislature stipulated that the holdings of these internal instances are final and may not be appealed before a Court, except on two grounds: lack of jurisdiction and violation of the rules of natural justice. As long as the judicial body operates within its defined authority, a legal misinterpretation or an erroneous factual determination does not, in itself, constitute an 'excess of authority. In the present matter, Hapoel’s contentions were quintessentially appellate, which the civil Court is not authorized to hear as an appellate instance on the internal judiciary of the Israeli Football Association. Indeed, the 'proper course' should be a sporting resolution on the pitch (a replay) rather than a technical victory that serves as a 'reward' for the opponent; but, under the circumstances of the case, it was not possible to so decide.