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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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19th December 2002

PRESS RELEASE: IHRC Welcomes Watford FC Decision
Club rejects racism and refuses Israeli team permission to use ground.

The Islamic Human Rights Commission welcomes Watford FC’s decision to turn down the Israeli FA’s request to allow the Israeli team to play their European Championship matches at Vicarage Road.

IHRC Chairman, Massoud Shadjareh said:

“This is a victory for civil society and a credit to the many individuals and organisations who contacted Watford to register their protest, as well as Watford FC itself who have taken a stance against racism.”

IHRC hopes that the issue of Israeli racism will now receive the same attention in the field of sport as did that of the South African team during the apartheid era.

For further information please contact the Press Officer on (+44) 20 8902 0888 or (+44) 7958 522 196, email: info@ihrc.org.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8902 0888
Fax (+44) 20 8902 0889
Email info@ihrc.org
Web www.ihrc.org