Maccabi Netanya Former Owner Denies $2.5 Million Lawsuit Claims

Maccabi Netanya is facing a NIS 9.5 million lawsuit filed by Aliya Capital Partners LLC, owned by current owner Ross Kestin. The lawsuit accuses former owner Eyal Segal and his company, Renomann, of fundamentally breaching the agreement to sell the club. Kestin's company claims the deal was intended to ensure the club was debt-free, with Aliya Capital Partners transferring $3.5 million to cover debts. Segal and his company allegedly committed to personally settling the remaining club debts until the end of the 2024/2025 season.

Segal has vehemently denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit "baseless and erroneous, both legally and factually-accounting wise." In a statement released through his attorney, Dor Liond, Segal claimed the lawsuit was filed after he sent a prior demand letter to Aliya. He also raised concerns about an unexplained withdrawal of $750,000 from the club's account, stating he discovered his name had been removed from the list of authorized signatories without his knowledge just before the funds were taken.

Segal's response asserts that he "did not withdraw a single shekel from Maccabi Netanya" and has acted to fully uphold the agreement, even allowing the club to operate for months after the sale using his own funds and bank guarantees. Ross Kestin, a Jewish-American businessman from Miami, acquired control of Maccabi Netanya from Segal in May 2025, ending Segal's nine-year ownership. Kestin, who heads the investment fund Aliya Capital Partners, had promised significant investment and infrastructure upgrades to make the club a leading force in the Israeli Premier League.