Israel denies Gaza football team barred from West Bank
Aug. 7, 2015
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=766914
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Gaza-based football club Ittihad al-Shujaiyeh said Friday that Israeli authorities prevented players and staff from leaving the besieged enclave to face West Bank rivals Ahli al-Khalil, while Israel denied the allegations and blamed Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub.
The Gaza-based team was scheduled to leave the coastal territory together with Hebron’s Ahli al-Khalil after having played an historic game a day earlier at the Yarmouk stadium in Gaza.
But four of the players and three of the team’s staff were refused travel permits, club spokesperson Alaa Shamali said.
The players were identified as Hussam Wadi, Maysara al-Bawwab, Omar al-Arier and Hashem Abed Rabbu.
