Voice of Jewish Sport

AS THE Jewish football season takes a break for a week, 2014’s last set of fixtures pulled up some intriguing results and has set us up for a barnstorming second half to the season. Sunday’s goalless draw between Hendon A and Redbridge A, coupled with Norstar’s 5-0 win over FC Team, means the title race in the Premier Division promises to be at least a three-horse race, with Harmen also not totally out of the picture. Hendon boss David Garbacz says the side who can deal best with the pressure will win the title, or as Sir Alex Ferguson put it – survives squeaky bum time. Division One promises to be even more competitive with the top five sides currently separated by seven points, though there is a bit of daylight at the top of Division Two with FC Team B set to have a five-point lead, plus a game in hand on their nearest rivals, once they’re awarded the points for a forfeited match. Division Three is led by the most in-form team across all the divisions – London Rovers who have won 11 of their 12 games. King Crown are hot on their heels though, four points behind, while Faithfold B’s win over Crown on Sunday sees them a further six points behind, but with two games in hand. Time for everyone to recharge their batteries, and then get set for battle for the next five months!

IT’S NOT often you hear of a footballer being handed a 99-year ban, but that’s exactly what’s happened to Attaf Abu Bilal. The Palestinian midfielder, who plays for Israeli fifth division side Segev Shalom, was given the hefty fine by the Israeli Football Association after it was discovered he was also playing in the Palestinian league. Handed the maximum length of suspension, he was also fined €200. The IFA reportedly wanted to issue him with a lifetime ban, but the system only allows a maximum suspension of 99 years. Looks like they’ll have to make do with that.