By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv has been declared innocent of any wrongdoing in the case of the dual contracts of former Hapoel Jerusalem forward Guy Pnini, and the team’s contract with the player has been cancelled.
In addition, Pnini has been released from his contract with Hapoel Jerusalem; he may play basketball this season, but only in
Pnini has agreed to give up his salary from his former team, which will not be demanding compensation from whichever team the player joins this season.
If Pnini does end up signing with a European team, an arbitrator will decide if Hapoel should receive compensation.
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv will be able to sign a new contract with Pnini next season.
After the verdict was announced, Guy Pnini had this to say, “I am happy this whole saga has ended, and I wish Hapoel Jerusalem the best of luck.
I will go my way, and they will go theirs.
I’m just happy I will be able to play basketball.
I’m a free agent right now.”
Maccabi Chairman of the Board Shimon Mizrahi added, “I’m very happy.
It has been proven that both Maccabi and Guy had only good intentions, and we had the right to sign that contract.
You have seen the unseemly behavior of a team that forced the issue and brought about the arbitration.
A player on the national team was unable to play because of this mess.
He has been declared to have had the right to be released from his contract, and we have been declared innocent of any wrongdoing.
We have won the right to sign him, and that is what we will do.”