A new football storm has hit Israel, as the owner of Beytar FC, Arkady Gaydamak, announced that he has handed over the main share in the club to Israeli-Russian businessman Tamerlan Medzhidov.
"It's no secret that my financial situation has changed and I can no longer afford Beytar. At the same time, the club means something to me and I want it to win the Israeli Championship. That is why I have found the best possible sponsor for it. First of all, he is an Israeli, he has served in the Israeli military and he speaks Hebrew fluently. Moreover, he is a wealthy businessman and can invest up to 5 million dollars in the club next year," Gaydamak says.
However, this opinion is obviously not shared by the team's fans, who have already forced two Chechen players to leave the team. The team's fans say they will never let a Muslim own Beytar and support an alternative candidate, Israeli businessman Eli Tabib.
One should bear in mind that Medzhidov is hardly known in Israel. The public knows only that he has made his fortune in Chechnya and he has organized a visit by Gaydamak to Grozny. Maybe when the Israelis learn more about him they will react in a more calm manner.
By Pyotr Lyukimson. Exclusively to VK
