Israel's Shahar Peer denied visa for Dubai Tennis Championships

Mihajlovic

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Peer broke barriers last year in Qatar when she was the first Israeli woman to play in a WTA Tour tournament in the Gulf as the region tries to enhance its reputation as an international sports hub.

But the UAE's decision has dealt a blow to Dubai's image openness in business and sport.

Peer, ranked 48th in the world, was told that her visa was denied by the UAE, said her brother and spokesman, Shlomi Peer. She had been drawn to play 15th-seeded Anna Chakvetadze in the first round of the joint ATP and WTA event, which includes all the top-10 ranked women's players.

WTA chief executive Larry Scott said the tour was "deeply disappointed" by the decision.

"Ms Peer has earned the right to play in the tournament and it's regrettable that the UAE is denying her this right," Scott said.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/te...nied-visa-for-Dubai-Tennis-Championships.html

This should be the last tournament taking place in the UAE. A most retarded decision by their government. It's only tennis ffs!
 
Wrong forum but, unfortunately "solidarity" is endemic, lets face it the US would not let Cat Stevens into the US and denied his visa post 9/11, is there a difference post the Israelis latest offensive? Singers are singers, sportswomen..........you get the picture.
 
It's a big can of worms but I think most Arab nations have special requirements with regards to entry requirements or visas for Israelis. It's no surprise given the tensions with regards to Israel and the Arabic world.

Politics has no place in sport but there's not much choice if a player doesn't meet entry requirements into the country.
 
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