Israel is barring 10 Palestinian soccer players from traveling from Gaza to the West Bank to play in Friday’s Palestine Cup final second leg, their club says.
Shabaab Rafah are 2-0 up against Ahly al-Khalil of Hebron from Tuesday’s first leg in Gaza City, but only 15 members of their squad are being allowed to travel for the return leg, club president Khaled Kwaik tells AFP.
Those missing include a striker and two of the club’s three goalkeepers.
“Banning the goalkeepers will negatively affect the team’s performance in the event of an injury to the (remaining) keeper,” Kwaik says.
There was is no immediate comment from Israeli authorities on why they had prevented the 10 players from leaving Gaza through the Erez crossing.
Despite the bans, the rare game between teams from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank will go ahead on Friday, the Palestinian Football Association says.
— AFP
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