Ronny Deila Questioned by Police in Tel Aviv Harassment Probe
ronny deila was questioned by police on Sunday morning in Tel Aviv after a taxi driver accused him of sexual harassment during a ride last week. He was released under restrictive conditions as the investigation continued, and the case has already put his role at a top-division club under pressure.
Tel Aviv taxi complaint
Police said a complaint was filed over the weekend, then officers opened an initial inquiry before questioning the suspect. He is described as a man in his 50s, a foreign national living in Israel, and Israeli media identified him only as a senior foreign coach employed by a top division soccer club.
The driver alleged that the coach made repeated comments of a sexual nature during a short ride in Tel Aviv. Mako reported that the trip lasted roughly six minutes, that she said he asked to be driven to his home in north Tel Aviv, and that the fare was estimated at around NIS 50.
Ronny Deila statement
The coach denied having any memory of the incident, according to several reports. KAN reported that he told investigators he did not remember what had happened, while Mako reported that he said he had been drinking and that the incident may have been a big misunderstanding.
After questioning, he said: “I don’t believe I said or did this. I don’t remember. I drank a lot.” The driver also alleged that he was drunk during the ride, and that he left the taxi without paying after being picked up outside a bar or nightlife venue in central Tel Aviv.
Club pressure in Israel
Police are expected to hold a confrontation between the coach and the driver, and investigators are checking whether the taxi had an active dashboard camera. Ynet reported that the restrictive conditions included an order distancing him from the complainant.
The coach missed the team’s training session on Sunday because of the investigation, and his assistants ran it instead. The club had not publicly announced a decision on his employment, even as multiple sports outlets reported that it was examining the matter and that his position may be in jeopardy.
