Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer is back in Israel after being denied an entry visa to the UAE
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.The Israeli tennis player refused an entry visa to Dubai has told CNN she is "very, very disappointed" to have been denied the opportunity to play.
Shahar Peer was due to fly into the United Arab Emirates for the start of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Sunday, but was informed on Saturday night by telephone that she wouldn't be granted a visa.
She had just finished playing in the Pattaya Open in Thailand, where she reached the semi-final.
"They really stopped my momentum because now I'm not going to play for two weeks and because they waited for the last minute I couldn't go to another tournament either," Peer told CNN from Tel Aviv. "So it's very disappointing and I think it's not fair."
Her sentiments were echoed by the chairman and chief executive of the Wo
men's Tennis Association, Larry Scott, who said the decision could lead to the termination of professional tennis in the UAE.
"This runs counter to everything we were promised and I think it is a real setback, not only for international tennis, but the whole international sporting community will take note of this," Scott said.
Earlier an official source who did not want to be named, told CNN: "We should check what happened in New Zealand, when Peer was playing there with all the demonstrations against Israel during the attacks on Gaza. We have to consider securing the players and the tournament."
In January, a small group of about 20 protestors waved placards and shouted anti-Israel slogans outside the main entrance to the ASB Classic tournament in Auckland.
Peer is uncertain of her next move. She told CNN the last-minute decision had left her at a loose end. She said she was concerned about her points and ranking and may go to the U.S. this week to try to take part in another tournament.
"I don't think it should happen," she told CNN. "I think sport and politics needs to stay on the side and not be involved. I really hope it's not going to happen again, not only to me but to any other athlete."
Source: CNN
Shahar Peer was due to fly into the United Arab Emirates for the start of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Sunday, but was informed on Saturday night by telephone that she wouldn't be granted a visa.
She had just finished playing in the Pattaya Open in Thailand, where she reached the semi-final.
"They really stopped my momentum because now I'm not going to play for two weeks and because they waited for the last minute I couldn't go to another tournament either," Peer told CNN from Tel Aviv. "So it's very disappointing and I think it's not fair."
Her sentiments were echoed by the chairman and chief executive of the Wo
men's Tennis Association, Larry Scott, who said the decision could lead to the termination of professional tennis in the UAE."This runs counter to everything we were promised and I think it is a real setback, not only for international tennis, but the whole international sporting community will take note of this," Scott said.
Earlier an official source who did not want to be named, told CNN: "We should check what happened in New Zealand, when Peer was playing there with all the demonstrations against Israel during the attacks on Gaza. We have to consider securing the players and the tournament."
In January, a small group of about 20 protestors waved placards and shouted anti-Israel slogans outside the main entrance to the ASB Classic tournament in Auckland.
Peer is uncertain of her next move. She told CNN the last-minute decision had left her at a loose end. She said she was concerned about her points and ranking and may go to the U.S. this week to try to take part in another tournament.
"I don't think it should happen," she told CNN. "I think sport and politics needs to stay on the side and not be involved. I really hope it's not going to happen again, not only to me but to any other athlete."
Source: CNN
This is an unforgivable offense. It's just cold blooded murder. Let dubai be banned from hosting any international sports. The people of UAE has so much hatred that it clouded their judgement. I wouldn't want my children to even set foot anywhere in the middle east. Just the same, we will never patronize any sports hosted in the middle east except in Israel. Leave politics out of sports....Plain and simple.
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