Decision on Hap PT pushed off yet again

Court was expected to determine whether Petah Tikva would be allowed to remain in the Premier League.

By ALLON SINAI
Gili Landau 311 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Gili Landau 311
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
The Hapoel Petah Tikva saga refuses to end, with the Israel Football Association high court failing to come to a decision regarding the future of the bankrupt club on Sunday.
The court was expected to determine whether Petah Tikva would be allowed to remain in the Premier League despite failing to raise the mandatory minimum NIS 11.4 million budget by the July 29 deadline and also missing an extension last Tuesday.
Hapoel Kfar Saba, which finished third from top in the second division last season before losing to Petah Tikva in a relegation playoff, was cleared by the Budget Control Authority to play in the top flight last Wednesday, but Petah Tikva then announced that it is able to present a viable budget and appealed to the IFA high court for a reprieve.
Around 500 Petah Tikva fans protested outside the IFA headquarters at National Stadium in Ramat Gan while the proceedings were being held on Sunday, but they will have to wait at least one more day to find out the fate of their team.
The three high-court judges decided that another hearing is required to decide the matter, recommending that five judges, rather than the standard three, will resolve if Petah Tikva or Kfar Saba will play in the Premier League in the coming season.
The hearing is expected to take place on Monday, but considering the way the saga has unfolded so far it would be of little surprise if the final decision is postponed once more.