Shahar Peer refused entry into UAE

[Selective Retention]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7891164.stm

I wonder if anything will actually come of this or if the middle east with their bags of money become to tennis what India is to cricket.

 

[Smell The Glove]

Pathetic. Even more pathetic is that the WTA will most likely just roll over.

 

[matt_897]

Larry Scott (head of the WTA) said they would consider withdrawing Dubai as an event next year. I'll doubt it with the money they are offering

 

[red+black]

Yay Islam

 

[pepsi]

Should lose the tournament. Absolutely shocking that they refused a player entry due to their country of birth. Terrible. I don't care who is bombing who, but Peer should have been allowed entry.

 

[torq]

The other gals should boycott all UAE tournaments in future. However, I'm not sure there is as much solidarity among the women in pro tennis.

 

[Ted38]

It would appear that the UAE has shit in its own nest by granting a visa to the male Israeli player to play in the mens equivalent next week. Maybe they've got the hint.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

Yay Islam

I think you'll find the reasons are political not religious.

 

[torq]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25086276-23216,00.html

Good to see the organisers of the Dubai tournament got a kick up the bum.

What's unclear is whether UAE government officials can still choose to deny entry to a competing sportsperson, even if tournament officials acquiesce.