The head of the Israel Soccer Association, Ofir Eini, informed Economy Minister Aryeh Deri that if he does not issue the permits permitting the games on Shabbos, he will suspend all games. Deri, in his capacity as Minister of the Economy, may issue permits permitting a special dispensation for violating the Sabbath Rest Law. This pertains to the nation’s little league, not the professional soccer league. The little league includes some 30,000 children around Israel, all mechalel Shabbos to play soccer.

Interestingly, hundreds of players have signed a petition explaining they do not want to play on Shabbos. They have been calls to the soccer association to select a different day of the week towards accommodating those who do not wish to be mechalel Shabbos, but the league seems uninterested in such a possibility. Bayit Yehudi MK Betzalel Smotrich recently sent Deri a letter http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/338728/bayit-yehudi-mk-calls-on-deri-not-to-permit-shabbos-soccer-games.html calling him not to play a role in this massive chilul Shabbos.

Tel Aviv Labor Court Judge Ariella Gilzer-Katz recently ruled the players unwilling to play on Shabbos cannot be forced to do so. She ordered playing league matches on a different day. Both sides are expected back in court in another effort to reach agreement but the court did point out that unless the Minister of the Economy approves the Shabbos games, they are illegal and the court cannot sanction them.

Soccer officials explain that the Shabbos games are ongoing throughout the day and they simply do not see what other day of the week is available for the children to continue playing.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)