2015–16 Liga Bet

The 2015–16 Liga Bet season is the 60th season of fourth tier football in Israel.

League matches began on 2 October 2015 and ended on 19 April 2016, followed by promotion and relegation play-offs.

Tzeirei Kafr Kanna (champions of the North A division), F.C Haifa Robi Shapira (champions of the North B division), F.C. Bnei Jaffa Ortodoxim (champions of the South A division) and F.C. Dimona (champions of the South B division) won their divisional titles and promotion to Liga Alef.

The clubs ranked 2nd to 5th in each division entered a promotion play-off, at the end of which, Hapoel Umm al-Fahm (from the North section) and F.C. Tira (from the South section) met the teams ranked 14th in Liga Alef. F.C. Tira won their tie and was promoted to Liga Alef as well, while Hapoel Umm al-Fahm lost and remained in Liga Bet.

At the bottom, F.C. Pardes Hanna-Karkur (from North B division), Ironi Beit Dagan (from South A division) and Hapoel Rahat (from South B division) were automatically relegated to Liga Gimel. Hapoel Bnei Maghar (from North A division) folded during the season, leaving their respective divisions with 15 teams.

The clubs ranked 12th to 15th in each division entered a relegation play-off, at the end of which Ahi Bir al-Maksur (from North A division), Ihud Bnei Baqa (from North B division), Hapoel Tzafririm Holon (from South A division) and Hapoel Merhavim (from South B division) dropped to Liga Gimel as well.

Review and Events

• At the beginning of the season, Liga Bet clubs competed in the State Cup, the first four rounds played within each division as a league cup competition, with the divisional winner and runner-up qualifying to the nationwide sixth round. Ironi Bnei Kabul, F.C Haifa Robi Shapira, F.C. Roei Heshbon Tel Aviv and Bnei Yeechalal Rehovot had beaten their rivals in the finals, played between 16 October and 20 October 2015.^[1][2]
• On 8 January 2016, Bnei Maghar announced their resignation from the league, due to financial difficulties and lack of sufficient football stadium in Maghar.^[3][4]

North A Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Tzeirei Kafr Kanna	28	18	8	2	60	26	+34	62	Promotion to Liga Alef
2	Hapoel Bu'eine	28	14	9	5	41	23	+18	51	Promotion play-offs
3	Ironi Bnei Kabul	28	12	12	4	40	21	+19	48
4	Hapoel Kaukab	28	14	5	9	46	38	+8	47^[a]
5	Maccabi Ironi Acre	28	14	5	9	53	36	+17	47^[a]
6	Hapoel Shefa-'Amr	28	13	9	6	51	26	+25	47^[b]
7	Beitar Nahariya	28	13	2	13	42	39	+3	41
8	Hapoel Ihud Bnei Sumei	28	9	7	12	34	39	−5	34
9	Ahva Kafr Manda	28	9	5	14	37	44	−7	32
10	Ahi Acre	28	7	11	10	33	44	−11	32
11	Maccabi Bnei Nahf	28	9	4	15	35	43	−8	31
12	Al-Nahda Nazareth	28	9	3	16	34	51	−17	30	Relegation play-offs
13	Beitar Haifa	28	8	6	14	27	40	−13	30
14	Ahi Bir al-Maksur	28	6	7	15	21	44	−23	25
15	Beitar Kafr Kanna	28	6	5	17	24	64	−40	23
–	Hapoel Bnei Maghar	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Updated to match(es) played on 19 April 2016. Source: IFA (in Hebrew)
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd matches won; 3rd head-to-head; 4th decision match
Notes:

1. HKB–MIA 1–1; MIA–HKB 2–2
2. Hapoel Shefa-'Amr had one point deducted as the club's fans spat and threw water bottles at the referee assistant during a match, played on 5 February 2016, against Maccabi Bnei Nahf.^[5]

North B Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	F.C Haifa Robi Shapira	30	22	4	4	63	18	+45	70	Promotion to Liga Alef
2	Hapoel Umm al-Fahm	30	18	7	5	55	22	+33	61	Promotion play-offs
3	Hapoel Sandala Gilboa	30	16	6	8	49	27	+22	54
4	Hapoel Bnei Zalafa	30	14	7	9	49	31	+18	49
5	F.C. Daburiyya	30	13	8	9	50	44	+6	47
6	Maccabi Ahi Iksal	30	10	9	11	35	39	−4	39^[a]
7	Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel	30	10	9	11	34	35	−1	39^[a]
8	Maccabi Sulam	30	11	5	14	48	62	−14	38^[b]
9	Ihud Bnei Kafr Qara	30	11	5	14	27	32	−5	38^[b]
10	Maccabi Ein Mahil	30	11	5	14	33	44	−11	38^[b]
11	Maccabi Umm al-Fahm	30	12	4	14	34	38	−4	37^[c]
12	Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megiddo	30	10	6	14	37	57	−20	36	Relegation play-offs
13	F.C. Tzeirei Tur'an	30	10	4	16	40	49	−9	34
14	Ihud Bnei Baqa	30	8	10	12	37	51	−14	34
15	Maccabi Ironi Yafa	30	7	7	16	25	41	−16	28
16	F.C. Pardes Hanna-Karkur	30	5	8	17	28	54	−26	23	Relegation to Liga Gimel

Updated to match(es) played on 19 April 2016. Source: IFA (in Hebrew)
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd matches won; 3rd head-to-head; 4th decision match
Notes:

1. HDK–MAI 1–1; MAI–HDK 3–1
2. MEM–BKQ 2–1, 1–0; MEM–MSU 2–4, 1–1 ; MSU–BKQ 0–1, 3–1
3. Maccabi Umm al-Fahm had three points deducted.

South A Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	F.C. Bnei Jaffa Ortodoxim	30	22	2	6	57	33	+24	68	Promotion to Liga Alef
2	F.C. Tira	30	21	3	6	55	24	+31	66	Promotion play-offs
3	Hapoel Kafr Qasim Shouaa	30	15	5	10	48	37	+11	50
4	F.C. Ironi Or Yehuda	30	13	9	8	44	35	+9	48
5	Hapoel Pardesiya	30	13	8	9	55	39	+16	47
6	A.S. Holon	30	13	7	10	49	43	+6	46
7	Beitar Petah Tikva	30	10	9	11	38	39	−1	39
8	Hapoel Nahlat Yehuda	30	10	6	14	46	47	−1	36^[a]
9	Hapoel Kiryat Ono	30	10	6	14	38	39	−1	36^[a]
10	Hapoel Ramat Israel	30	10	5	15	45	65	−20	35
11	F.C. Tzeirei Tayibe	30	9	8	13	46	49	−3	35
12	F.C. Roei Heshbon Tel Aviv	30	9	7	14	36	52	−16	34	Relegation play-offs
13	Beitar Ramat Gan	30	9	6	15	39	45	−6	33^[b]
14	Hapoel Tzafririm Holon	30	9	6	15	35	52	−17	33^[b]
15	Maccabi Ironi Kfar Yona	30	9	6	15	41	56	−15	33^[b]
16	Ironi Beit Dagan	30	7	9	14	43	60	−17	30	Relegation to Liga Gimel

Updated to match(es) played on 19 April 2016. Source: IFA (in Hebrew)
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd matches won; 3rd head-to-head; 4th decision match
Notes:

1. HKO–HNY 0–3; HNY–HKO 2–2
2. MKY–HZH 1–4, 1–1; HZH–BRG 0–2, 1–6 ; MKY–BRG 0–3, 1–4

South B Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	F.C. Dimona	30	21	6	3	68	20	+48	69	Promotion to Liga Alef
2	F.C. Be'er Sheva	30	20	4	6	78	31	+47	64	Promotion play-offs
3	F.C. Holon Yaniv	30	16	9	5	48	22	+26	57
4	Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi	30	17	5	8	52	28	+24	56
5	Ironi Modi'in	30	16	7	7	55	29	+26	55
6	Beitar Ma'ale Adumim	30	15	8	7	67	43	+24	53
7	Beitar Giv'at Ze'ev	30	12	7	11	42	41	+1	43
8	Maccabi Be'er Sheva	30	12	3	15	46	60	−14	39^[a]
9	Maccabi Segev Shalom	30	12	3	15	51	65	−14	39^[a]
10	Ironi Beit Shemesh	30	11	4	15	39	60	−21	37
11	Maccabi Ironi Netivot	30	10	7	13	47	45	+2	37
12	Bnei Yeechalal Rehovot	30	9	6	15	26	32	−6	33	Relegation play-offs
13	Tzeirei Rahat	30	9	3	18	32	62	−30	30
14	Beitar Yavne	30	8	6	16	42	60	−18	30
15	Hapoel Merhavim	30	5	7	18	44	64	−20	22
16	Hapoel Rahat	30	3	3	24	29	103	−74	11^[b]	Relegation to Liga Gimel

Updated to match(es) played on 19 April 2016. Source: IFA (in Hebrew)
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd matches won; 3rd head-to-head; 4th decision match
Notes:

1. MBS–MSS 3–1; MSS–MBS 1–2
2. Hapoel Rahat had one point deducted for fielding an ineligible player.

Promotion play-offs

Northern Divisions

	Division semi-finals					Division final					Regional final
	2	Hapoel Bu'eine	3
	5	Maccabi Ironi Acre	0
						2	Hapoel Bu'eine	0 (4)
	North A division
						4	Hapoel Kaukab	0 (2)
	3	Bnei Kabul	0 (1)
	4	Hapoel Kaukab	0 (4)
											2NA	Hapoel Bu'eine	0
											2NB	Hapoel Umm al-Fahm	3
	2	Hapoel Umm al-Fahm	3
	5	F.C. Daburiyya	2
						2	Hapoel Umm al-Fahm	1 (3)
	North B division
						4	Bnei Zalafa	1 (2)
	3	Hapoel Sandala Gilboa	1
	4	Bnei Zalafa	3

Hapoel Umm al-Fahm qualified to the promotion play-off match against 14th ranked club in Liga Alef North division, Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel.

Southern Divisions

	Division semi-finals					Division final					Regional final
	2	F.C. Tira	3
	5	Hapoel Pardesiya	2
						2	F.C. Tira	3
	South A division
						3	Hap. K. Qasim Shouaa	2
	3	Hap. K. Qasim Shouaa	1
	4	Ironi Or Yehuda	0
											2SA	F.C. Tira	1
											2SB	F.C. Be'er Sheva	0
	2	F.C. Be'er Sheva	2
	5	Ironi Modi'in	0
						2	F.C. Be'er Sheva	2 (4)
	South B division
						4	Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi	2 (3)
	3	F.C. Holon	1 (2)
	4	Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi	1 (4)

F.C. Tira qualified to the promotion play-off match against 14th ranked club in Liga Alef South division, Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva.

Promotion play-off Matches

North section

Hapoel Umm al-Fahm v Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel

13 May 2016	Hapoel Umm al-Fahm	0 – 1	Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel	Ilut Stadium, Ilut
15:00 UTC+3		Report (in Hebrew)	Malasa   52'	Referee: Guy Berger

Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel remained in Liga Alef; Hapoel Umm al-Fahm remained in Liga Bet.

South Section

F.C. Tira v Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva

13 May 2016	F.C. Tira	1 – 1 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p)	Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva	Toto Stadium, Lod
15:00 UTC+3	Mansour   117'	Report (in Hebrew)	Yehudai   120'	Referee: Liran Wachsberger
	Penalties
	Sha'ari   Kashoua   Gindiya   Amar		Lankri   Arbiv   Zaliat   Hemo

F.C. Tira Promoted to Liga Alef; Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva relegated to Liga Bet.

Relegation play-offs

Northern divisions

North A division Semi-finals Final             12 Al-Nahda Nazareth 0 15 Beitar Kafr Kanna 2 12 Al-Nahda Nazareth 1 14 Ahi Bir al-Maksur 0 13 Beitar Haifa 1 14 Ahi Bir al-Maksur 0 Ahi Bir al-Maksur relegated to Liga Gimel

North B division Semi-finals Final             12 Hap. Ramot Menashe 0 (12) 15 Ironi Yafa 0 (13) 12 Hap. Ramot Menashe 3 14 Ihud Bnei Baqa 0 13 Tzeirei Tur'an 3 14 Ihud Bnei Baqa 0 Ihud Bnei Baqa relegated to Liga Gimel

Southern divisions

South A division Semi-finals Final             12 R.H. Tel Aviv 5 15 Ironi Kfar Yona 0 15 Ironi Kfar Yona 2 14 Tzafririm Holon 0 13 Beitar Ramat Gan 1 14 Tzafririm Holon 0 Hapoel Tzafririm Holon relegated to Liga Gimel

South B division Semi-finals Final             12 Bnei Yeechalal 2 15 Hapoel Merhavim 0 15 Hapoel Merhavim 0 13 Tzeirei Rahat 1 13 Tzeirei Rahat 0 14 Beitar Yavne 2 Hapoel Merhavim relegated to Liga Gimel

References

1. State Cup, Fourth Round, North B Division Final, Hapoel Robi – Ramot Menashe 4:1 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Nimrod Katz, 17 October 2015, Hapoel Robi Shapira Haifa (in Hebrew)
2. Summary of State Cup Matches Alon Yehudayoff, 20 October 2015, Doublepass (in Hebrew)
3. Bnei Maghar Football Team Folded 8 January 2016, Portal HaCarmel (in Hebrew)
4. Hapoel Bnei Maghar on Its Way Out of the League 8 January 2016, Sabeel (in Arabic)
5. Decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal, File 94145 IFA, 6 March 2016 (in Hebrew)

External links

• [1] The Israel Football Association (in Hebrew)
• [2] The Israel Football Association (in Hebrew)
• [3] The Israel Football Association (in Hebrew)
• [4] The Israel Football Association (in Hebrew)