Hapoel Tel Aviv started the 1988/9 season with minus four points. As the Hive members said in “Foggy Stories”, they were told to cheer up because it could be worse, they cheered up – and really everything got worse. After years of managerial mess that somehow ended in achievements and titles, Hapoel Tel Aviv collapsed and was relegated for the first time in its history. 28 years passed, and financial violations came again, this time accompanied by a drop of nine points. The team found itself again in the second division.
Even if it hasn’t happened yet, the defeat to Beitar Jerusalem marked Hapoel Tel Aviv’s path to the national championship for the third time. Can it still be saved? Of course, but it was a monumental event, the kind of games after which you realize there is no going back. There is no one today who believes That this team will remain in the Premier League. As of the final whistle, Hapoel Tel Aviv is no longer dependent on itself, even a victory over Ashdod, which theoretically was supposed to finally rescue the team from the threat of relegation, not only is it not on the horizon, it is not certain that it will help even if it is achieved.
