|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (AAJLJ) and Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), in response to Aston Villa Football Club’s announcement that no Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters will be permitted to attend a UEFA Conference League match on Nov. 6 at Villa Park, called upon U.S. authorities to investigate whether this amounted to an unsanctioned foreign boycott by an American owned-entity against Israel and its citizens.
If the ban on Maccabi supporters is carried out, such actions could amount to participation in a prohibited foreign boycott under U.S. law, including the Export Administration Regulations, the Trump administration’s anti-BDS executive orders, and multiple state-level anti-boycott statutes.
“We urge the Department of Commerce to open an immediate investigation into whether the New York-based investment firm Atairos, through their ownership stake in V Sports, are in violation of the Department’s antiboycott compliance regulations,” said Arie Lipnick, CAM Advisory Board Member, on Friday. “Any U.S. person, investor, sponsor, or media affiliate that participates in an unsanctioned foreign boycott risks administrative and/or criminal liability. Moreover, Aston Villa’s discriminatory stance could have diplomatic and practical repercussions — including immigration and security implications for the club, its executives, and supporters seeking entry to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup or other sporting events.”
Rob Garson, President of the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, said, “We will be taking this matter directly to the White House, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of State to ensure that the United States does not become complicit in enforcing or tolerating discriminatory actions against Israel or the Jewish people under the guise of political protest. Sports should unite, not divide. We call upon Aston Villa Football Club to immediately reverse its ban, fulfill its UEFA obligations, and affirm that there is no place for pretextual boycotts or discrimination on the field of play. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) should open a formal review of all financial arrangements connected to this matter to ensure that American investors are not bankrolling, enabling, or excusing antisemitic discrimination abroad.”
###
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) is a global coalition uniting more than 950 partner organizations and hundreds of thousands of individuals across diverse backgrounds to fight antisemitism in all its forms. By mobilizing communities, advancing innovative tools, and working with governments and civil society, CAM drives collaborative action to protect Jewish life and uphold democratic values worldwide.
The American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (AAJLJ) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting human rights, combating antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, and defending the rule of law in the United States and around the world. Through education, advocacy, and strategic legal engagement, the AAJLJ continues to advance the ideals of equality, fairness, and accountability in the pursuit of justice.
