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Lawyers’ group calls for action against Lebanese girl who refused to play Israeli in chess tournament
UKLFI says International Chess Federation must show leadership
September 14, 2022 16:43
UKLFI says International Chess Federation must show leadership
September 14, 2022 16:43UK Lawyers for Israel has called on the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to take action against a Lebanese player who refused to play her Israeli opponent in Abu Dhabi last month.
Junior competitor Nadia Fawaz withdrew from the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival to avoid playing Elijah Grossman in the fourth round of the tournament, after winning her matches against players from Brunei, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
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Head of the Lebanese Chess Federation, Khaled Bdeih, praised the 12-year-old’s action saying it demonstrated both solidarity with the Palestinian people and criticism of Arab states that have normalized relations with the Jewish state.
She was also hailed a hero by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
FIDE said it was reviewing UKLFI’s complaint that the withdrawal breached the organisation’s own rules and also went against the wider ethics of sport.
“We ask that FIDE show leadership over this incident,” said the UKLFI which has also asked the federation to take action over the Lebanese delegation and the Lebanese Chess Federation . “If it doesn’t want its events to be undermined for the political aims of others, it should take action over this case now.”
The lawyers' group said the young player’s withdrawal also raised safeguarding issues. “Politicians and adults in the delegation seem to be imposing their will on youth players, something that ought to be of great concern to FIDE.”
Last month, another young Lebanese athlete withdrew from the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation World Championships in Abu Dhabi to avoid fighting his Israeli opponent. Charbel Abou Daher pulled out of the competition after a draw placed him against Yonatahn Mak in the Youth B 48-kilogram weight class category.
“Our bets are placed on youths like Charbel Abou Daher and Nadia Fawaz who refuse to face Israeli contenders,” said Mr Nasrallah.