to hold the event at the reception hall in Yad Hashmona. But when the reception hall owners realized that the wedding party was for a lesbian couple, they informed Ya'akovoich and Biran that the hall does not hold events for same-sex couples, and canceled their reservation.

The couple was represented by attorney Ira Hadar, who specializes in gay rights cases. In her lawsuit on behalf of the couple, Hadar claimed her clients suffered discrimination and humiliation based on sexual orientation.

In the end, the couple held their part at nearby Kibbutz Tzuba.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that the owners of the reception hall belong to a sect of messianic Jews, and according to their religious beliefs, homosexuality is an “abomination.” They based their opposition on verses from the bibleThe 24-year-old midfielder arrived in Melbourne in January as a mid-season acquisition after failing to crack the first team at Dutch club VVV-Venlo.

In a show of faith rarely seen in ambitious young Australians, he signed on a two-and-a-half year deal that takes him through to the end of the 2019-20 season.

Antonis said he was in no hurry to head back abroad to give European football another crack.

And he credits Muscat for that.

"I want to keep playing here under Kevin," he said.

"Kevin knows how to get the best out of you. People like working under him and playing under him.

"He was the captain at the club, one of the longest-serving people here at the club.

"He loves it and wants the best for it. To be at a club where