Former New York Metropolis FC coach Ronny Deila is being investigated by Israeli authorities over suspicions of sexually harassing a feminine taxi driver in Tel Aviv.
Deila, who was NYCFC’s head coach when the membership gained its first MLS Cup in 2021, allegedly made sexual remarks to the lady and refused to pay his fare for the journey after an evening out ingesting,
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The is claimed to have occurred on Thursday night time, and Israel Police questioned the 50-year-old soccer coach, releasing him after below restrictive situations.
Former New York Metropolis FC soccer coach Ronny Deila in 2020. AP
Deila has been in Israel since February, when he took over as head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv, which performs within the prime flight of Israeli soccer.
The previous MLS Cup-winning coach confirmed in a press release to N12 that he was being investigated for sexual harassment and apologized for his actions.
“An incident occurred within the early hours of Thursday morning, throughout my journey residence in a taxi. I don’t bear in mind the main points of the incident, as I had an excessive amount of to drink and subsequently selected to take a taxi,” the assertion learn. “If my phrases offended the taxi driver, I apologize to her sincerely and wholeheartedly for that. I’d additionally prefer to apologize to all of the membership members and to our great followers. This conduct doesn’t meet the requirements and values that I set for myself. I take duty for the scenario and undertake to study from it, enhance and deal with these issues in knowledgeable and applicable method. Once more, I sincerely apologize.”
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This is able to be the second alleged incident Deila has been concerned on this yr since arriving in Israel.
Deila had been embroiled in an argument after it was reported he had been forcibly kicked out of a bar in Tel Aviv after the employees on the institution refused to serve him extra alcohol, in keeping with a number of retailers.
Police confirmed that they had been referred to as over a criticism {that a} “international citizen” had been arguing with the employees of an institution after they refused him service.
and Ronny Deila holding the MLS Cup trophy at Metropolis Corridor in 2021. Stephen Yang
“Law enforcement officials shortly arrived on the scene, approached the international citizen and demanded that he go away the place instantly — and he did so,” a police spokesperson .
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The supervisor of the institution — the Berlin Bar — denied that Deila was drunk or abusive, and Deila referred to as the stories “simply gossip.”
New York Metropolis FC coach Ronny Deila, proper, offers a thumbs as much as coach Greg Vanney, left, earlier than an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, AP
Deila led NYCFC for 2 and a half seasons and was on the helm after they captured their first MLS championship in 2021.
Underneath Deila, New York Metropolis FC went 46-29-15.
He departed in the midst of the 2022 season to educate Commonplace Liège within the Belgian Professional League.
He served as the pinnacle coach of Scottish Premiership membership Celtic from 2014-16.
Deila did one other stint in MLS in 2025, when he served as head coach of for one season.