The Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs has approved a bill banning smoking in soccer grounds.

The bill was initiated by Knesset Member Adi Koll ( Yesh Atid ) following citizens' complaints that Israeli football stadiums are filled with cigarette smoke, harming non-smoking fans.

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The bill aims to complement the existing anti-smoking law, which prohibits smoking in public places, and calls for designated smoking areas in soccer stadiums.

"I think the sports experience is spoiled when one is surrounded by smoking people," says MK Koll. "This is a standard which exists in all soccer fields in the world, and there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to enjoy smokeless football in Israel too."

The bill will next be brought to the Knesset for a first reading before being handed over to the committee ahead of the second and third readings. The ministerial committee's support guarantees a majority for the proposal in the Knesset vote.