In the penultimate round of Liga Alef, Hapoel Kfar Saba, who were leading the table, scored a 12–0 victory against Hapoel Nahariya, while its rival for promotion, Maccabi Rehovot score an 11–0 victory against local rival Maccabi Sha'arayim. The IFA set up a committee, headed by the IFA president, Yosef-Michael Lamm to investigate the results. After the investigation the committee decided to set promotion play-offs for the five teams involved in promotion battles.[1][2] The play-offs were held after the summer break, at the beginning of the next season.
At the end of the league season, the top division was re-expanded to 12 teams. No club was relegated from Liga Leumit, while two teams were promoted (after the completion of the special promotion play-offs). The bottom club in Liga Leumit, Maccabi Jaffa entered a promotion/relegation play-offs again the third-placed club from 1956–57 Liga Alef. As Hapoel Jerusalem finished third in Liga Alef, prior to the committee's decision to hold the promotion play-offs, Maccabi Jaffa and Hapoel Jerusalem played the first match, resulting in a 1–1 draw. The second match was delayed and then cancelled as the committee ordered the play-offs.
Domestic leagues
Promotion and relegation
The following promotions and relegations took place at the end of the season (including the Liga Alef promotion play-offs, played at the beginning of the next season):
1.Hapoel Balfouria merged with Hapoel Afula. The merged team, although at times appearing as Hapoel Balfouria or Hapoel Afula/Balfouria, eventually retained the name Hapoel Afula and played with this name since.
