World Bowls Tours Ltd (WBT) has acted illegally in cancelling the participation of Israeli bowls players who should be competing in the 2025 tournament at Potters Resort in Norfolk.

WBT withdrew the invitation to Israeli players who qualified to compete in the forthcoming World Indoor Championships, due to be held on 10-26 January 2025. WBT has claimed security concerns as grounds for the cancellation.  The decision affects Daniel Alomin in the World Singles, as well as Amnon Amar and Itai Rigbi in the World Open Pairs.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has written to the directors of WBT, pointing out that this is a clear breach by WBT of section 29(1) of the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits a person concerned with the provision of a service to the public or a section of the public from discriminating against a person requiring the service by not providing him with the service.

WBT’s refusal to provide its services of organising the tournament to the Israeli players constitutes direct discrimination because of their nationality, which is a protected characteristic under section 9 of the Equality Act.

UKLFI explained that this discrimination is not justified by the suggested security concerns. In the first place, UKLFI does not accept that it would be impossible to ensure security if the tournament goes ahead with the participation of the Israeli players. UKLFI asked WBT what steps they had taken to investigate these concerns and the measures that could be taken to address them?

UKLFI also argued that even if it is impracticable to hold the tournament with the participation of the Israeli players, this does not justify excluding them from the tournament. There is no exception to section 29(1) of the Equality Act allowing this. If it is not practicable to hold the tournament without discrimination because of nationality at the present time, the tournament should be cancelled.

This is what the World Squash Federation did when it became clear that Israeli competitors would not be able to play in a world championship in Malaysia.

Jonathan Turner, Chief Executive of UKLFI, warned WBT that if it does not retract its exclusion of the Israeli players and proceed with the tournament, the Israeli players may bring legal proceedings for breach of section 29 of the Equality Act, in which they may seek an injunction and/or damages, which would be substantial.    The Directors of WBT could be personally liable, as well as WBT, in accordance with section 110 of the Equality Act.

UKLFI has also written in similar terms to John Potter of Potters Resorts, the venue for the tournament, and to Ambassador Cruise Lines, the sponsor.  Jonathan Turner commented:  “The better decision would be to withdraw the cancellation of the Israeli players and any consequential changes. Failing that, the only lawful course is to cancel the tournament altogether.”