THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch soccer club Vitesse Arnhem is facing criticism for traveling to Abu Dhabi for a training camp without defender Dan Mori, who was not allowed into the Arab emirate because he is Israeli.
Vitesse spokeswoman Ester Bal says the team, which is second in the Dutch league, was told a day before it flew to Abu Dhabi that Mori would not be allowed into the country.
Officials in the United Arab Emirates could not immediately be reached for comment.
The UAE is a federation of seven states that includes the oil-rich capital Abu Dhabi and the commercial hub Dubai. Like most Arab countries, it does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Pro-Israel Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders tweeted Monday that Vitesse should have stayed home in protest.
