2022–23 Israel State Cup

The final brought Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Netanya to Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa on May 23, 2023.[1] For Beitar Jerusalem, the 2022–23 edition represented an opportunity to end a lengthy trophy drought; the club had not lifted the State Cup since 2009, a gap of 14 years.[1]

Beitar Jerusalem controlled the match from the outset, winning comfortably over 90 minutes. Ion Nicolaescu opened the scoring, and substitute Fred Friday doubled the lead approximately ten minutes after entering the game in the 64th minute.[1] Yarden Shua completed the scoring from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Danilo Asprilla was brought down in the box, making it 3–0.[1]

The match was not without disorder. Play was halted three times during the first half after supporters threw flares onto the pitch, foreshadowing the chaos that would follow the final whistle.[1]

Following Beitar Jerusalem's victory, thousands of the club's supporters stormed the field. Fans took medals intended for the players, damaged the goal netting, and set fire to the nets.[1][2] Security guards and police were unable to control the crowd, and the Israel Football Association asked Beitar players to help calm supporters.[2]

President Isaac Herzog, who had been scheduled to present the trophy, was escorted from the stadium by security as the situation deteriorated.[1] A replacement ceremony was held at the President's Residence in Jerusalem the following day.[3] Beitar manager Yossi Abukasis acknowledged that his supporters' behavior had prevented the team from celebrating as it had hoped, and Israel Football Association chairman Moshe Zuares issued a public apology for the incident.[1] The disciplinary tribunal later described the final as "a shameful and humiliating event, the likes of which Israeli football has never known in a situation like this."[4]

The Israel Football Association's disciplinary tribunal handed Beitar Jerusalem a one-year ban from European competition — specifically the UEFA Europa Conference League — and a fine of NIS 70,000.[4] The tribunal allowed the club to retain the State Cup title but stated it could not permit the club to benefit from the associated economic rights.[4] Further sanctions warned that a recurrence of similar fan disorder could result in exclusion from the State Cup and the loss of three league points.[4]

On appeal, the penalties were partially modified. The Israel Football Association court overturned the disqualification from the State Cup, while a four-point deduction for the following league season was imposed in place of the original three-point penalty; an additional suspended three-point deduction was also retained.[2]