Ex-Israeli soccer manager charged with sexual offense

A former Israeli soccer manager has been charged with allegations of sexually abusing minors while serving his position, local sources say.

An indictment was filed on Thursday against Ofer Tzabari, the ex-manager of Hapoel Petah Tikva soccer team, for committing sexual offenses against three minors aged 13-15 over a long period of time, Haaretz reported.

Tzabari’s offences include sodomy and indecent acts. According to the charges, he abused his position by enticing the youngsters and providing them with money and clothes.

“The accused exploited the age difference between him and the minors, the fact that they are of limited means and their dream of joining the world of soccer in order to commit sexual offenses against them,” reads the charge sheet at the Tel Aviv District Court.

The indictment also said that after gaining the victim’s trust, the manager carried out his sexual offenses against the youths, with and without their consent.

“At different times the defendant committed by exploiting their dependence upon him.”

The prosecution stated that some of the correspondence between Tzabari and the minors, including WhatsApp mobile messaging application and Facebook, revealed that he strengthened his relation and “messaged them intensively, with some of the messages having a sexual or intimate nature.”

One of the victims told the police that he was scared of reporting the assaults to anyone, as he feared Tzabari’s reaction and the consequences of revealing the suffering.

Tzabari was also charged with assault against a police officer who tried to arrest him, escaping from police custody, and disobeying police orders and preventing them from carrying out their duties.