The Palestine Football Association has asked UEFA to bar Israel from hosting the 2013 European Under-21 Championship over its detention without trial of Palestinian players.
In a letter addressed to UEFA President Michel Platini, PFA President Jibril Rajoub expressed concern over the fate of three players -- Palestine midfielder Mahmud Sarsak, Olympic squad goalkeeper Omar Abu Rois and Ramallah player Mohammed Nimr, all of whom are being held by Israel without charge.
"We are deeply concerned about the situation of our footballers," Rajoub wrote in the letter, dated June 12, a copy of which was seen by AFP on Thursday.
"We ask your excellency not to give Israel the honour of hosting the next UEFA U21 Championship in 2013," he wrote.
Sarsak, 25, is currently on a hunger strike which has lasted more than 80 days, sparking a growing international outcry.
Source: AFP
