UAE denies visa to Israeli tennis player
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UAE denies visa to Israeli tennis player
Front-page now on CNN.com - nice publicity huh 
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- The United Arab Emirates has refused to grant a visa to a female Israeli tennis player, preventing her from competing in the Sony Ericsson World Tennis Association Tour in Dubai, the WTA said in a statement Sunday.
Shahar Peer would have been the first Israeli athlete to participate in a professional sporting event in the UAE, CNN Sports Correspondent Pedro Pinto said.
The governing body of women's tennis said it was "deeply disappointed" that Peer was being denied entry to the country hosting the tournament, but it did not cancel the competition.
The move runs counter to WTA policy, which says no player should be barred from competing in a tournament for which she has qualified.
Dubai could lose its WTA membership next year over the ban on Shahar, according to the governing body's rules.
That would mean professional players could compete only in exhibition matches, the results of which would not count in pro rankings.
"We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) denying Shahar Peer a visa that would permit her to enter the country to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships," said Larry Scott, chairman and chief executive of the tour.
"Ms. Peer has earned the right to play in the tournament and it is regrettable that the UAE is denying her this right.
"Following various consultations, the Tour has decided to allow the tournament to continue to be played this week, pending further review by the Tour's Board of Directors," WTA chief Scott said.
The Dubai Tennis Championships began Sunday. The tournament patron is Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Makhtoum. Two million dollars in prize money is on the line.
Peer, 21, is ranked 48th in the world among female tennis players. She was allowed to compete at the Doha tournament in Qatar last year.
"Ms. Peer and her family are obviously extremely upset and disappointed by the decision of the UAE and its impact on her personally and professionally, and the Tour is reviewing appropriate remedies for Ms. Peer, and also will review appropriate future actions with regard to the future of the Dubai tournament," Scott said.
"The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour believes very strongly, and has a clear rule and policy, that no host country should deny a player the right to compete at a tournament for which she has qualified by ranking."
UAE denies visa to Israeli tennis player - CNN.com
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- The United Arab Emirates has refused to grant a visa to a female Israeli tennis player, preventing her from competing in the Sony Ericsson World Tennis Association Tour in Dubai, the WTA said in a statement Sunday.
Shahar Peer would have been the first Israeli athlete to participate in a professional sporting event in the UAE, CNN Sports Correspondent Pedro Pinto said.
The governing body of women's tennis said it was "deeply disappointed" that Peer was being denied entry to the country hosting the tournament, but it did not cancel the competition.
The move runs counter to WTA policy, which says no player should be barred from competing in a tournament for which she has qualified.
Dubai could lose its WTA membership next year over the ban on Shahar, according to the governing body's rules.
That would mean professional players could compete only in exhibition matches, the results of which would not count in pro rankings.
"We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) denying Shahar Peer a visa that would permit her to enter the country to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships," said Larry Scott, chairman and chief executive of the tour.
"Ms. Peer has earned the right to play in the tournament and it is regrettable that the UAE is denying her this right.
"Following various consultations, the Tour has decided to allow the tournament to continue to be played this week, pending further review by the Tour's Board of Directors," WTA chief Scott said.
The Dubai Tennis Championships began Sunday. The tournament patron is Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Makhtoum. Two million dollars in prize money is on the line.
Peer, 21, is ranked 48th in the world among female tennis players. She was allowed to compete at the Doha tournament in Qatar last year.
"Ms. Peer and her family are obviously extremely upset and disappointed by the decision of the UAE and its impact on her personally and professionally, and the Tour is reviewing appropriate remedies for Ms. Peer, and also will review appropriate future actions with regard to the future of the Dubai tournament," Scott said.
"The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour believes very strongly, and has a clear rule and policy, that no host country should deny a player the right to compete at a tournament for which she has qualified by ranking."
UAE denies visa to Israeli tennis player - CNN.com
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Which country? - I've been 'told' that it doesn't exist
Mind you, it's often mentioned in the local newspapers...
As to this case - makes for very poor advertising, and just as visitor numbers to Dubai are dropping off..
Mind you, it's often mentioned in the local newspapers...As to this case - makes for very poor advertising, and just as visitor numbers to Dubai are dropping off..
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Ms. Peer can migrate to another country if she's so desperate to play in Dubai! You cant expect any Muslim or in fact any sensible country to let Israelis enter their land after what they did last month.
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Ohhh... so Ms Peer should be held personally responsible for the actions of a bunch of bloodthirsty terrorists she doesn't even (in all probability) know?
Perhaps every country should take this stance against anyone from any nation whose inhabitants have ever perpetrated any form of violence against it. Then none of us would go anywhere. Brilliant!
Perhaps every country should take this stance against anyone from any nation whose inhabitants have ever perpetrated any form of violence against it. Then none of us would go anywhere. Brilliant!
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This is just symbolic action and nobody is directly blaming her for what happened. Maybe she should blame her own politicians in the first raw. Nothing is new with some forms of boycotts against Israel in the muslim world. If UAE nationals had to vote I'm sure they would have approved. Now how would an Iranian player be treated in Israel ?
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All the travel guides I have read sugest that the UAE along with most other countries in the region will not allow entry to an Israeli passport holder (and some also deny anybody with evidence of a visit to Israel) so it is no suprise that this visa has been rejected. As far as I understand it, this is not a political retaliation for recent events in Gaza but simply that the UAE does not recognise the existance of the state of Israel so cannot admit anybody with a passport that they don't recognise as valid.
Incidently the only two counties in the region that do allow Israelis entry are Egypt and Jordan, both of whom have recognised the state in the past as part of the peace process.
Incidently the only two counties in the region that do allow Israelis entry are Egypt and Jordan, both of whom have recognised the state in the past as part of the peace process.
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Well Well Well
If you forgot What happened to us Pilots (professional pilot)after the stupid 9/11 And cab crew and still happening ,every time we go to work Yes i will blame her for being from this foolish terror org called israel who dont belong anywhere, we did not want them in europe and nobody else too.
I dont blame UAE for what they did.
I wish my country will do the same.
If you forgot What happened to us Pilots (professional pilot)after the stupid 9/11 And cab crew and still happening ,every time we go to work Yes i will blame her for being from this foolish terror org called israel who dont belong anywhere, we did not want them in europe and nobody else too.
I dont blame UAE for what they did.
I wish my country will do the same.
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Get a backbone WTA
The WTA is going "to review" its stance on the Dubai tournament after UAE denied a qualified athlete a visa solely due to her nationality? What's to review? An unequivocal "no more tournaments in Dubai" should be an automatic response. Get a backbone WTA!
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Obviously the WTA tour does not "believe strongly" enough when it comes to its principles. The UAE is violating WTA rules and demonstrating the lowest form of discrimination. Not only should the WTA cancel the tournament, but it should also remove the UAE from its memberships roles.
Politics should have nothing to do with sports.
Politics should have nothing to do with sports.
