Local Soccer: Sahar in dispute with IDF over service

Army is demanding Espanyol striker return to Israel to begin his basic training in mid-July.

By ALLON SINAI
ben sahar 88 (photo credit: )
ben sahar 88
(photo credit: )
The IDF is demanding Espanyol striker Ben Sahar return to Israel to begin his basic training in mid-July. The 19-year-old Israel international, who signed with the La Liga club last week, was supposed to go through his basic training in June according to an agreement reached with the IDF. However, Sahar failed to do so and is now claiming it will not be possible for him to leave his new club during preseason training, angering both the IDF and the Israel Football Association. "We have notified Sahar that from now on he will have to deal directly with the IDF," an IFA statement read. "Sahar is a loved and important player and we are sorry that previous arrangements organized for the player by the IFA have not been honored. We hope that eventually the matter will be resolved in the best possible way." In other soccer news, former Manchester City star Eyal Berkovic was ordered by the Kfar Saba Magistrate's Court Tuesday afternoon to serve 100 hours of community service for attacking his son's soccer coach almost two years ago. Berkovic was also ordered to compensate the coach Danny Etziyoni to the tune of NIS 2,000. In May, Berkovic was convicted of assaulting Etziyoni after confessing to the charges as part of a plea bargain.