Local newspaper article (7th September 2007) - www.burnleycitizen.co.uk

Anger as football tour gets red card

CAMPAIGNERS in East Lancashire who aim to foster better links with Palestine have condemned the Foreign Office for blocking a youth football tour.

The Palestinian under-19 football team was due to meet Blackburn Rovers' youth side tomorrow - the highlight of a UK tour by the players from the West Bank and Gaza. But the British Consulate refused to issue visas to the squad amid fears that the teenagers might not return home after the trip because of the problems in their homeland.

Now members of Pendle for Palestine Twinning Group have joined a chorus of disapproval against the decision.

A spokesman for the Colne-based group said: "As local supporters of freedom and equality for Palestine we were looking forward to the visit of the under-19 football team.

"We were shocked and outraged to hear of the government's decision to refuse visas for the whole team, resulting in the visit being cancelled." The campaigners were incensed as the Rovers game coincided with England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel on the same night.

The campaigners have called on people to lobby Labour MPs, such as Justice Secretary Jack Straw, Burnley's Kitty Ussher, Hyndburn's Greg Pope and Pendle MP Gordon Prentice, to protest. The Palestine side was also due to play Chester and Tranmere under-19 teams.

Last Sunday Palestinian international Morad Fareed visited Darwen Library to showcase Goal Dreams, a film detailing his national side's efforts to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. Before the event he was presented with a signed Rovers shirt outside Ewood Park by the club.