Liga Leumit 1966-68
Encyclopedia
The 1966–68 Liga Leumit
season was the thirteenth in the league's history, and is notable for the Israel Football Association
's decision to play it over two years as a ploy to combat corruption and increasing violence at matches. The sixteen teams played each other four times during the season, effectively combining two seasons into one, leading it to be known as the double season .
At the end of the season SK Nes Tziona and Hapoel Mahane Yehuda
were relegated to Liga Alef
. Neither team has returned to the top flight since. They were replaced by Hapoel Kfar Saba and Beitar Jerusalem. As champions, Maccabi Tel Aviv entered the 1969 Asian Club Championship
, which they won. Maccabi Netanya's Mordechai Spiegler
was the season's top scorer with 38 goals - 15 during 1966–67 and 23 in 1967–68.
. In an attempt to restore order to the game and solve the issues raised, the IFA decided to spread the league games over two years instead of one. The main objectives were to put an end to the riots on the field, reducing trouble at matches and improve the quality of play, as well as infusing new blood into teams by alleviating the immediate fear of relegation.
The double season format involved all the Maccabi
(Haifa
, Maccabi Jaffa, Netanya, Sha'arayim
and Tel Aviv) and Hapoel
(Be'er Sheva, Haifa, Jerusalem, Mahane Yehuda
, Petah Tikva, Ramat Gan and Tel Aviv) teams playing amongst themselves at the start of the season, and only later playing between the two groups of clubs. This was aimed at minimising the possibilities for match-fixing by teams affiliated to the same organisation at the end of the season. However, despite the drastic solution of playing a double season, the objectives were not considered to have been achieved.
Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the lowest-placed team are relegated to Liga Alef while the highest-placed team from Liga Alef are promoted in their place...
season was the thirteenth in the league's history, and is notable for the Israel Football Association
Israel Football Association
The Israel Football Association , also known as IFA, is the governing body of football in Israel. It organizes the football leagues, Israeli Premier League, Israeli State Cup, Toto Cup and the Israeli national football team. The association is based in Ramat Gan...
's decision to play it over two years as a ploy to combat corruption and increasing violence at matches. The sixteen teams played each other four times during the season, effectively combining two seasons into one, leading it to be known as the double season .
At the end of the season SK Nes Tziona and Hapoel Mahane Yehuda
Hapoel Mahane Yehuda F.C.
Hapoel Mahane Yehuda is an Israeli football club based in the Mahane Yehuda neighbourhood of Petah Tikva. The club currently plays in Liga Bet, the fifth level of Israeli football, though in the past they have played in the top division.-History:...
were relegated to Liga Alef
Liga Alef
-History:League football began in Israel in 1949–50, a year after independence. However, the financial and security crises gripping the young nation caused the 1950–51 season to be abandoned before it had started. When football resumed in 1951–52, the new top division went by the name of Liga Alef...
. Neither team has returned to the top flight since. They were replaced by Hapoel Kfar Saba and Beitar Jerusalem. As champions, Maccabi Tel Aviv entered the 1969 Asian Club Championship
Asian Club Championship 1969
The Asian Club Championship 1969 was the 2nd edition of the annual Asian club football competition hosted by Asian Football Confederation. Ten domestic league champions from ten countries competed in the tournament. The tournament was held in Bangkok, Thailand and ten clubs were split in two...
, which they won. Maccabi Netanya's Mordechai Spiegler
Mordechai Spiegler
Mordechai "Motaleh" Spiegler is a former Israeli footballer. He remains Israel's record goalscorer, with 33 goals in 83 caps.In 2005, he was voted the 105th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest...
was the season's top scorer with 38 goals - 15 during 1966–67 and 23 in 1967–68.
Background
The season began with a protests from relegated players, with the uproar reaching as far as the KnessetKnesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
. In an attempt to restore order to the game and solve the issues raised, the IFA decided to spread the league games over two years instead of one. The main objectives were to put an end to the riots on the field, reducing trouble at matches and improve the quality of play, as well as infusing new blood into teams by alleviating the immediate fear of relegation.
The double season format involved all the Maccabi
Maccabi World Union
The Maccabi World Union is an international Jewish sports organisation spanning 5 continents and more than 50 countries, with some 400,000 members...
(Haifa
Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
, Maccabi Jaffa, Netanya, Sha'arayim
Maccabi Sha'arayim F.C.
Maccabi Sha'arayim is an Israeli football club based in Rehovot. They currently play in the South B division of Liga Bet, but spent seven seasons in the top division from 1963-1969 and in the 1985-86 season.-History:...
and Tel Aviv) and Hapoel
Hapoel
Hapoel is an Israeli sport association. It was established in 1926 as a union of the Histadrut, and represented the workers class...
(Be'er Sheva, Haifa, Jerusalem, Mahane Yehuda
Hapoel Mahane Yehuda F.C.
Hapoel Mahane Yehuda is an Israeli football club based in the Mahane Yehuda neighbourhood of Petah Tikva. The club currently plays in Liga Bet, the fifth level of Israeli football, though in the past they have played in the top division.-History:...
, Petah Tikva, Ramat Gan and Tel Aviv) teams playing amongst themselves at the start of the season, and only later playing between the two groups of clubs. This was aimed at minimising the possibilities for match-fixing by teams affiliated to the same organisation at the end of the season. However, despite the drastic solution of playing a double season, the objectives were not considered to have been achieved.
League table
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 60 | 30 | 18 | 12 | 88 | 50 | 38 | 78 | Qualified for Asian Club Championship Asian Club Championship 1969 The Asian Club Championship 1969 was the 2nd edition of the annual Asian club football competition hosted by Asian Football Confederation. Ten domestic league champions from ten countries competed in the tournament. The tournament was held in Bangkok, Thailand and ten clubs were split in two... |
| 2 | Hapoel Petah Tikva | 60 | 27 | 21 | 12 | 72 | 48 | 24 | 75 | |
| 3 | Hapoel Haifa | 60 | 27 | 16 | 17 | 72 | 47 | 25 | 70 | |
| 4 | Hapoel Tel Aviv | 60 | 24 | 21 | 15 | 80 | 55 | 25 | 69 | |
| 5 | Maccabi Haifa Maccabi Haifa F.C. Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups... |
60 | 26 | 15 | 19 | 55 | 43 | 12 | 67 | |
| 6 | Hapoel Jerusalem | 60 | 24 | 18 | 18 | 66 | 55 | 11 | 66 | |
| 7 | Bnei Yehuda | 60 | 20 | 24 | 16 | 54 | 49 | 5 | 64 | |
| 8 | Maccabi Netanya | 60 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 82 | 68 | 14 | 60 | |
| 9 | Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 60 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 71 | 62 | 9 | 60 | |
| 10 | Hakoah Ramat Gan | 60 | 22 | 16 | 22 | 66 | 78 | -12 | 60 | |
| 11 | Hapoel Ramat Gan | 60 | 15 | 24 | 21 | 65 | 69 | -4 | 54 | |
| 12 | Maccabi Jaffa | 60 | 17 | 19 | 24 | 50 | 59 | -9 | 53 | |
| 13 | Maccabi Sha'arayim Maccabi Sha'arayim F.C. Maccabi Sha'arayim is an Israeli football club based in Rehovot. They currently play in the South B division of Liga Bet, but spent seven seasons in the top division from 1963-1969 and in the 1985-86 season.-History:... |
60 | 14 | 24 | 22 | 49 | 72 | -23 | 52 | |
| 14 | Shimshon Tel Aviv | 60 | 14 | 23 | 23 | 65 | 80 | -15 | 51 | |
| 15 | Hapoel Mahane Yehuda Hapoel Mahane Yehuda F.C. Hapoel Mahane Yehuda is an Israeli football club based in the Mahane Yehuda neighbourhood of Petah Tikva. The club currently plays in Liga Bet, the fifth level of Israeli football, though in the past they have played in the top division.-History:... |
60 | 13 | 23 | 24 | 51 | 82 | -31 | 49 | Relegated to Liga Alef Liga Alef -History:League football began in Israel in 1949–50, a year after independence. However, the financial and security crises gripping the young nation caused the 1950–51 season to be abandoned before it had started. When football resumed in 1951–52, the new top division went by the name of Liga Alef... |
| 16 | SK Nes Tziona | 60 | 8 | 16 | 36 | 54 | 123 | -69 | 32 |