Jewish Sabbath ruling threatens traditional Israeli soccer Saturdays

Israeli soccer matches on Saturday, long a national pastime, could soon be banned after a court ruling on a petition by religiously observant players against taking to the field during the Jewish Sabbath. Their refusal to participate in some matches that in previous years have been held on weekdays led an Israeli labour court to rule that without a special government waiver that allows companies to employ workers on the Sabbath, which runs from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, soccer competitio...