In an effort to avoid a recurrence of Saturday's racist behavior by fans, Betar
Jerusalem will ask the Israel Football Association's disciplinary court to host
Tuesday's State Cup match against Maccabi Umm al-Fahm in front of an empty Teddy
Stadium.
Betar will stand trial at the IFA on Tuesday morning after
supporters reacted angrily to owner Arkadi Gaydamak's announced that the club is
set to sign Muslims Dzhabrail Kadiyev and Zaur Sadayev from Chechen club Terek
Grozny, raising banners reading: "Betar [will be] pure forever" and singing
anti-Arab chants during the 1-0 Premier League defeat to Bnei Yehuda on
Saturday.
Jerusalem chairman Itzik Kornfein met with IFA chairman Avi
Luzon on Monday and announced that Betar will request to be punished to play in
front of empty stands on Tuesday in a potentially volatile showdown with Umm
al-Fahm.
Luzon revealed during the meeting with Kornfein that FIFA and
UEFA are following the happenings at Betar and could demand the club be shut
down should the anti-Muslim bigotry in the stands continue.