Ahead of Thursday's Conference League second leg against AEK Larnaca, former Beitar Jerusalem midfielder Kobi Moyyal used his slot on ONE's "Today's Talk" to send a pointed message to the club's travelling support: leave the flares and fireworks at home.
Moyyal, who made 120 appearances for Beitar's first team before retiring, argued that pyrotechnics carry a real risk of hurting rather than helping the club's push toward the group stage. "Don't try to bring in flares and fireworks," he said, warning that any resulting punishment from UEFA "could really hurt the team."
The warning comes with the tie delicately poised. Beitar go into the return leg holding a 1-0 advantage from the first meeting in Larnaca on July 23, when substitute-turned-hero Brayan Carabali curled home a free kick in the 77th minute, moments after AEK defender Mike van der Hoorn was sent off for hauling down a Beitar attacker breaking clear on goal.
That result means Beitar need only avoid a two-goal defeat on Thursday to advance to the next qualifying round, having controlled the second half in Cyprus once Larnaca were reduced to ten men.
The return fixture will not be played in Jerusalem. Beitar's "home" leg is being staged in Ploiești, Romania, roughly an hour from Bucharest, with more than 3,000 Beitar supporters reported to be travelling in support - one of the largest away followings the club has taken to Europe in recent years.
Romanian police have echoed the club's message with warnings of their own, telling fans that anyone caught carrying pyrotechnic devices into the stadium risks arrest and possible imprisonment under Romanian law, independent of any disciplinary action UEFA might take against Beitar.
The club's own pre-match guidance to supporters largely mirrored that message, prohibiting flares, fireworks, alcohol, weapons and other combustible or illegal materials, while also urging fans to steer clear of racist chanting - the kind of conduct that has drawn UEFA fines against Beitar in the past.
On the football, Moyyal was upbeat about Beitar's prospects. He described the squad as deeper and better balanced than Larnaca's, with enough quality in reserve to cover for absences even away from Teddy Stadium, and forecast a tense contest ending in a 2-1 Beitar win.
Larnaca, who arrive in Romania knowing only a comfortable win will turn the tie around, retain the continental pedigree Moyyal credited them with. But for Beitar, keeping Thursday night about the football - rather than any repeat of pyrotechnic trouble - is now as much a part of the build-up as the team news.
