Israeli investigation launched

Matan Vilnai, the Israeli sports minister, is to launch an investigation into the scandals which overshadowed football in his homeland this season.

Judge heads committee
District judge and former referee Amnon Strashnov has been appointed the head of a committee which includes former national coach Yehuda Shahrabani to investigate the troubles. They will look into the allegations of match fixing by referees, illegal gambling and double contracts in the game, along with the celebrations following Maccabi Haifa's Premier League championship win which left Amir Rand unconscious in hospital

No sanctions
Vilnai revealed that the committee would not have the to power to impose any sanctions, but merely aimed to produce a report on the events of the last six months for the Israel Football Association (IFA), saying: "I reached a decision to take a broad look at aspects in football in a similar manner to the Etzioni Committee [established in 1971 to examine allegations of fixed matches].

Move welcomed
"I want to emphasise, however, that this is not going to be an opening of the door for politics to interfere in sports," continued Vilnai, who consulted various ministers before taking his decision. IFA chairman Gavri Levi welcomed the move, saying: "I honestly hope and believe that after the committee has finished its work every football fan in Israel will know the whole truth about the way that the game is run in this country."