Israeli Flag Football team celebrates winning gold, Sunday, August 3, 2023 (Photo: Steve Leibowitz)
The Israel Under-17 National Team took the gold medal by beating Serbia 34-14 in the first International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Flag Football European Youth Championships.
“The quest for a gold medal in IFAF Flag Football has been ongoing for 15 years and Team Israel finally reached the top of the podium,” said American Football in Israel President Steve Leibowitz.
The IFAF scheduled the Israeli teams to play one game on Shabbat, dismissing appeals from Israel to reschedule it.
Many of the players are religiously observant and refused to play on the Jewish Sabbath.
All three Israeli teams forfeited the games on Shabbat and automatically lost 35-0.
“The fact that the boys won gold despite forfeiting the Shabbat game was only because they were far stronger than other teams. Our girls were strong enough to reach the final four but the forfeit knocked them out. We will continue to push for no Shabbat games for Team Israel. We are proud that unlike most other sports federations in Israel, our policy is to do all within our power to include religious players,” said Leibowitz.
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