Former soccer player Haim Sirotkin sentenced to one year in prison for running over protesters

Former Israeli soccer player Haim Sirotkin has been sentenced to one year in prison after being convicted of reckless and negligent conduct involving a vehicle. The conviction stems from an incident on April 6, 2024, where Sirotkin drove into five protesters during an anti-government demonstration in Tel Aviv, injuring them.

The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court also suspended Sirotkin's driver's license for four years and ordered him to pay NIS 20,000 in compensation to one victim and NIS 4,000 each to four others. The incident occurred as Sirotkin was driving with his wife and another couple to a party. When they reached an intersection where protesters were crossing, Sirotkin stopped his vehicle. After exchanging words with demonstrators, and following the departure of a police officer who had offered assistance, Sirotkin accelerated into the intersection, striking the protesters.

The court found Sirotkin guilty of reckless and negligent conduct, determining that while he may not have intended to hit the protesters, he consciously accelerated his car while people were crossing in front of him, disregarding the risks. One victim, a woman in her 60s, sustained a head injury and four broken ribs. The court noted that Sirotkin continued driving for over 10 seconds before stopping.

In its sentencing decision, the court cited three aggravating factors: Sirotkin's conscious acceleration despite the presence of pedestrians, the number of victims, and the seriousness of the injuries sustained by one of them. The court emphasized that Sirotkin's actions went beyond ordinary negligence due to his deliberate acceleration amidst the demonstration.