Deitz Denies Claims He Delayed Transfers at Maccabi

Maccabi Tel Aviv minority shareholder Richard Deitz rejected claims that former head coach Pini Gershon delayed the signing of a new player. Gershon had said on the "Al Habazer" podcast of the newspaper Israel Hayom that sporting director Claudio Coldebella had identified potential transfers and that the money was available, but Deitz stopped the process with additional questions. Although Gershon said his claim was based on emails, those exchanges have not been made public, and the reasons for the delay could not be independently verified.

In his statement dated October 30, Deitz categorically described this account as "fake news." Hinting that reports about Maccabi Tel Aviv have often turned out this way recently, he wrote that the reality was exactly the opposite. He recalled that the club's ownership and management dispute had gone to arbitration, and that mediation was also planned.

Deitz said all of this summer's transfers were approved by Oudi Recanati, the majority shareholder with 58 percent of the shares. He said that when he voiced his views on the contracts, they were not taken into account.

Deitz said that after Iffe Lundberg was injured during training on October 20, he received no information about a reserve player for five days. He said that on October 25 Coldebella sent an email with options, then presented a shortlist and a comprehensive scouting report. Deitz emphasized that he replied within three hours, asking for clear recommendations and a decision, and that he supported making the reinforcement quickly.