Malaysia's government will allow Chelsea coach Avram Grant and defender Tal Ben Haim to enter the country for a preseason tour in July despite a policy of not issuing visas to Israelis.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Sunday that immigration authorities will not bar the English Premier League club's representatives from visiting for a friendly against a select Malaysian team in Kuala Lumpur on July 29.
Malaysia, which is predominantly Muslim, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and Israeli citizens require special permission to visit.
''The ministry looks at the overall social and sporting aspects,'' the national news agency Bernama quoted Syed Hamid to say. ''If they do not bring with them their politics or ideology, there shouldn't be any problem.''
Chelsea had indicated last month it may have to abandon the Malaysian leg of its tour if the two men were not allowed into the country.
Syed Hamid said the government does not consider the visit by Chelsea's Israelis' as a threat, stressing that the issue should not be politicized.
Some Malaysian Muslim activists have warned they might stage demonstrations if the government allows the visit.
''We have not recognized Israel (diplomatically) as it does not fulfill its international obligations,'' Syed Hamid was quoted as saying by Bernama. ''But in sports, we can allow their athletes in. I'm a Chelsea
supporter too.''
Malaysia allowed Israel to play in an international cricket tournament in 1997, but it led to demonstrations by Muslim groups.
Chelsea will kick off its preseason tour with a match against Chinese Super League team Guangzhou Pharmaceutical on July 23. The tour will be the west London club's first in Asia since May 2005.
RSS
