1953–54 Liga Alef
The 1953–54 Liga Alef season saw Maccabi Tel Aviv were crowned champions for the third successive time, whilst Eliezer Spiegel of Maccabi Petah Tikva was the league's top scorer with 16 goals. No clubs were relegated as the league was expanded to 14 clubs in the following season.
Although league matches ended on 13 March 1954,[1] the confirmation of the league's final standings was delayed, as a match between Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Petah Tikva, which was played on 26 December 1953 and ended with a 3–2 win for Haifa, was claimed to be fixed, to allow Maccabi Haifa to win.[2] Eventually, on 10 January 1955, the IFA decided to replay the match in a neutral venue,[3] Maccabi Haifa won the rematch 4–1 and secured their spot in the top division.[4] However, with the IFA already deadlocked with an ongoing dispute between Hapoel and Maccabi, Beitar declared its resignation from the IFA in protest of the IFA decision to replay the Maccabi Haifa-Maccabi Petah Tikva match.[5][6] Discussions were held with the help of Judge Yosef-Michael Lamm, and an agreement between the factions was reached on 28 January 1955, confirming the results of the season and reprieving Beitar Tel Aviv and Hapoel Balfouria from relegation.[7][8]
The league was played with two points for a win and one for a draw.
Final table
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 59 | 11 | 5.36 | 38 |
| 2 | Maccabi Petah Tikva | 22 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 50 | 22 | 2.27 | 32 |
| 3 | Hapoel Petah Tikva | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 55 | 25 | 2.20 | 27 |
| 4 | Hapoel Tel Aviv | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 35 | 18 | 1.94 | 25 |
| 5 | Maccabi Rehovot | 22 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 30 | 33 | 0.91 | 21 |
| 6 | Hapoel Ramat Gan | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 31 | 35 | 0.89 | 20 |
| 7 | Maccabi Netanya | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 23 | 36 | 0.64 | 19 |
| 8 | Maccabi Haifa | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 26 | 51 | 0.51 | 19 |
| 9 | Hapoel Haifa | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 26 | 37 | 0.70 | 18 |
| 10 | Hapoel Kfar Saba | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 27 | 38 | 0.71 | 17 |
| 11 | Beitar Tel Aviv | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 23 | 42 | 0.55 | 17 |
| 12 | Hapoel Balfouria | 22 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 20 | 57 | 0.35 | 11 |
References
- ↑ Beitar Tel Aviv to Liga Bet Al HaMishmar, 14 March 1954, Historical Jewish Press (Hebrew)
- ↑ The Scandal in Haifa Herut, 3 January 1954, Historical Jewish Press (Hebrew)
- ↑ The League Match Maccabi Haifa-P.T. Will Be Replayed This Saturday in Kfar Saba Hadshot HaSport, 12 January 1955, via archive.football.org.il (Hebrew)
- ↑ Maccabi Haifa - Maccabi P.T. 4:1 (2:1) Ma'ariv, 16 January 1955, Historical Jewish Press (Hebrew)
- ↑ Hapoel Left Alone in the FA Ma'ariv, 16 January 1955, Historical Jewish Press (Hebrew)
- ↑ Beitar Withdrew from the FA Management Hadshot HaSport, 16 January 1955, via archive.football.org.il (Hebrew)
- ↑ The Football Conflict Is Eliminated - 14 Teams Will Begin Liga Alef Matches Next Saturday Hadshot HaSport, 30 January 1955, via archive.football.org.il (Hebrew)
- ↑ Peace Returned to the Football Association Ma'ariv, 30 January 1955, Historical Jewish Press (Hebrew)