Palestinian FA postpones cup final after Israel denies travel

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: The final of the Palestine Cup has been postponed after Israel denied Gaza-based players permits to travel, the Palestinian Football Association said on Wednesday.The second leg of the final between Balata FC and Khadamat Rafah, the winners of the West Bank and Gaza leagues respectively, was due to take place on Wednesday, PFA vice president Susan Shalabi told AFP.Gaza-based team Khadamat Rafah requested travel permits to the West Bank for 35 people, but Israel granted just four, three of them to club officials, Shalabi said.“The Israelis are very adamant in their refusal,” she added, saying they had cited security concerns they did not specify.A Khadamat Rafah official told AFP the club were still waiting for final decisions and were hopeful of securing more permits in the coming days. “We are ready at any moment. If we got the permits now, in 30 minutes we will be there,” Hodaifa Lafi told AFP. “The game has to go ahead.”She said it was impossible to discuss a date for the second leg until Israel granted more permits. There was no immediate comment from COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for Palestinian civil affairs. The first leg, played on Sunday in Gaza, ended 1-1.

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