{{short description|American lawyer and businessman|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox person | image = | name = Aaron Davidson | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date |45|2016|10|20}}<ref name="NYT 2016"/> | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | education = | alma_mater = Emory University (1993)<ref>Rangus, Eric, [http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/issues/2011/summer/features/soccer.html "Kicking Grass: How Atlanta’s rebooted pro team is bringing soccer back"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015075509/http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/issues/2011/summer/features/soccer.html |date=October 15, 2018 }}, ''Emory Magazine'', Summer 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2016.</ref><br/> Southern Methodist University (1996)<ref>[http://www.smu.edu/~/media/Site/EnrollmentServices/Registrar/AcademicCeremonies/PDF/MayCommencement/1996%20Commencement%20Convocation.pdf "Southern Methodist University Eighty-First Annual Commencement Convocation"] May 18, 1996, p. 18. Retrieved March 5, 2016.</ref> | occupation = | known_for = | spouse = Michelle Dryjansky | children = | relatives = | website = }}
'''Aaron Davidson''' (born 1971) is an American lawyer and businessman.
Davidson is the director of business development of the biophilic art and design firm/gallery [http://www.PlanThefuture.com Plant the Future], Conviction2, Inc. and the art firm/sports art gallery [https://www.instagram.com/theog4ever/?igsh=MXV3d3RwZ2N2OXdmYw%3D%3D OG4ever] and former chairman of the board of governors of the North American Soccer League,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.floridatrend.com/article/17748/kick-starter-aaron-davidson-re-establishes-pro-soccer-in-florida|title=Kick Starter: Aaron Davidson re-establishes pro soccer in Florida|author=|date=|website=Florida Trend|accessdate=January 24, 2019}}</ref> and former president of Traffic Sports USA. The Brazilian José Hawilla, owner and founder of Traffic Group, named Davidson VP of sales and marketing of his company's North American headquarters in 2003. Davidson then became President of Traffic Sports USA in 2012. Davidson spearheaded sponsorship sales for Copa America from 2004–2015 and for CONCACAF from 2012–2015 highlighted by increasing Copa America sponsorship from about $5 million to over $50 million and selling the first overarching CONCACAF partnership to Scotiabank.<ref>{{Cite press release |last= |title=Scotiabank Joins CONCACAF as Official Partner |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scotiabank-joins-concacaf-as-official-partner-300007246.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref> Davidson also led the reestablishment of the North American Soccer League (NASL)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.floridatrend.com/article/17748/kick-starter-aaron-davidson-re-establishes-pro-soccer-in-florida/|title=Kick Starter: Aaron Davidson re-establishes pro soccer in Florida|website=www.floridatrend.com}}</ref> and was part of the founding groups of Pan-American Sports Network – PSN (today Fox Sports Latin America) and the Tour de las Américas (today PGA Tour Latinoamericano). {{citation needed|date=July 2025}}
Davidson was one of 14 suspects indicted<ref>Blake, J. Mike, and Andrew Kenney, [http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/soccer/carolina-railhawks/article22423950.html "RailHawks owner Aaron Davidson indicted in FIFA soccer corruption case"], ''The News & Observer'', May 27, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2016.</ref><ref>Buchanan, Larry, Tom Giratikanon and Karen Youris, [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/05/26/sports/soccer/100000003705786.mobile.html "How the Indicted Officials Fit Into FIFA"], New York ''Times'', May 26, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.</ref> and detained in the 2015 FIFA corruption case.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news|last1=Halliday|first1=Josh|title=Fifa corruption crisis: the key figures in the controversy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/27/fifa-corruption-crisis-key-figures-football|accessdate=May 27, 2015|work=The Guardian|date=May 27, 2015}}</ref> He was banned by the FIFA Ethics Committee.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2015/m=5/news=independent-ethics-committee-bans-official-aaron-davidson-from-footbal-2609614.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528210734/http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2015/m=5/news=independent-ethics-committee-bans-official-aaron-davidson-from-footbal-2609614.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 28, 2015 |title=Independent Ethics Committee bans Aaron Davidson from football-related activities |date=May 28, 2015 |publisher=FIFA |access-date=June 17, 2016 }}</ref> In May 2015, Davidson pleaded not guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court and was released on $5 million bond.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/fifa-scandal-defendant-enters-not-guilty-plea-brooklyn-article-1.2240762 |title=FIFA scandal defendant enters not guilty plea in Brooklyn |last1=O'Keeffe |first1=Michael |date=May 29, 2015 |work=Daily News |access-date=June 17, 2016}}</ref> Subsequently, in October 2016, Davidson pleaded guilty and forfeited $507,900<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-idUKKCN12K2BG |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022153127/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-idUKKCN12K2BG |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 22, 2016 |title=Ex-marketing executive pleads guilty in U.S. bribery probe of FIFA |last1=Raymond |first1=Nate |date=October 21, 2016 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=October 22, 2016}}</ref> with sentencing set for October 3, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/file/799016/download|title=FIFA Prosecution, United States v. Napout, et al. and Related Cases|publisher=United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref> In September 2018, FIFA's ethics committee imposed life ban on Davidson for bribery and corruption and a $1.03 million fine.<ref name="AP News">{{cite news |title=FIFA life bans for 3 who pleaded guilty in US case |url=https://apnews.com/article/4dc9f4646c694626adb5b15b4620d727 |access-date=11 December 2022 |work=AP News |date=September 19, 2018}}</ref>
On September 1, 2023, Judge Pamela Chen of the Eastern District of New York acquitted Full Play and Lopez and stayed all upcoming sentencings including Davidson's sentencing in this case until appellate review, if any, is concluded.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-02 |title=U.S. judge throws out two bribery convictions |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38312517/us-judge-throws-two-soccer-bribery-convictions |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=Sep 1, 2023 |title=MEMORANDUM & ORDER |url=https://www.debevoise.com/-/media/files/pdf/show_temp.pdf?rev=2229e4b5e5f04f13b447baf282ab764f&hash=127E06D5A4741C5CD1CE6D05418E3266 |access-date=18 Oct 2025 |website=debevoise.com}}</ref>
==Early life== Both of his parents are first generation immigrants, and their parents are of eastern European Jewish ancestry. He describes himself as a "Tex-Mex-Costa Rican Jew".<ref>{{cite journal|first=Michelle|last=Kaufman|title=Miami soccer broker's fall shocks those around him|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article22657095.html |journal=Miami Herald|accessdate=December 23, 2015|date=May 29, 2015}}</ref>
Davidson was educated at Emory University and the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University.<ref name=martindale>{{cite web|title=Aaron Davidson - Lawyer Profile|url=http://www.martindale.com/Aaron-Davidson/2384710-lawyer.htm|website=martindale|accessdate=May 27, 2015}}</ref>
==Career== Davidson is a licensed attorney in Texas and New York. His career has been entirely in the legal and commercial aspects of sports management.<ref name=Sissummit>{{cite web|title=Speakers 2015 |url=http://www.sissummit.com/speakers-2015/ |website=Sissummit |access-date=May 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527205448/http://www.sissummit.com/speakers-2015/ |archive-date=May 27, 2015 }}</ref> Davidson worked at the Muller Group, a marketing firm for sports in New York.<ref name="NYT 2016">{{Cite news|last=Ruiz|first=Rebecca R.|date=2016-10-21|title=American Pleads Guilty in FIFA Case for His Role in Bribes Worth Millions|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/sports/soccer/aaron-davidson-fifa-bribes-conspiracy.html|access-date=2021-04-01|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
==Personal life==
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==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davidson, Aaron}} Category:Emory University alumni Category:Living people Category:Dedman School of Law alumni Category:North American Soccer League (2011–2017) executives Category:Businesspeople from Texas Category:Texas lawyers Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:1970s births Category:Year of birth missing (living people)