Maccabi Haifa forward Eduardo Renato is expected to be called before the club's internal disciplinary panel and be punished - a large fine - following his colorful display on his way to the dressing room after being replaced in the 57th minute of yesterday's 0-0 draw against Maccabi Petah Tikva in their Premier League match.
Renato did not hide his frustration after he realized that he was going to be substituted and left the field slowly, continuing to the dressing room while ignoring the professional staff's requests that he stay on the bench.
"His behavior is arrogant," said a source at the club. "He does whatever he wants and doesn't take anyone else into consideration. Something like this cannot become a regular occurence."
Yaniv Katan, in what appears to be an act of protest, refused to wear the captain's armband yesterday after Alon Harazi was replaced in the 74th minute. Katan, who saw Dekel Keinan coming toward him in order to give him the captain's armband, signaled to the defender that he was not prepared to wear it and he should pass it along to Nir Davidovich for the rest of the match.
In the other Premier League matches yesterday, it was: Bnei Yehuda 2, Ashdod S.C. 0; Maccabi Netanya 3, Hapoel Tel Aviv 0; Kiryat Shmona 3, Maccabi Tel Aviv 1; and Bnei Sakhnin 2, Hapoel Kfar Sava 0.
Maccabi Netanya's win means that Beitar Jerusalem cannot technically clinch the Premier League championship tonight with a victory over visiting Maccabi Herzliya, although a win would give Beitar a 15-point lead in the standings over Netanya, Kiryat Shmona and Bnei Sakhnin with five matches left.