By Amy Samin
In a decision by the club management, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv’s forward and former captain Guy Pnini has been stripped of his role and suspended from the team indefinitely following an incident in the team’s game against Hapoel Tel Aviv. The player was also fined 100,000 NIS by the team.
Pnini explained that during the highly-charged game against Hapoel Tel Aviv there were a number of small physical and verbal skirmishes between himself and Jonathan Skjoldebrand, and as a result Pnini responded in an inappropriately harsh manner. Although things were said in the heat of the moment, Pnini stressed that he never truly intended the things he said.
Pnini has issued a lengthy and heart-felt apology, and accepts the punishment handed out to him by the club, which includes being removed as team captain for the remainder of the 2012 – 2013 season, suspension from the team in both the Israeli League and the Euroleague until further notice, and a fine of 100,000 NIS to be donated to a charity of the player’s choice.