The Israel Football League (IFL) is into its second full-paid season. In the last couple of years, it has grown from just three teams to five, and should see further growth next season.
Players come from all over Israel, and include new immigrants, veterans, Jews, and Arabs. In a part of the world where fighting sometimes seems the norm, the sight of winners and losers hugging means a great deal more.
Watch a video report on a high-velocity match between the Jerusalem Lions ("Big Blue") and the Haifa Underdogs here.
Reprinted with the permission of ISRAEL21c.