Major Tennis Tournament Ejects Tunisia for Anti-Semitism

When we see administrative decisions that openly reject prejudice in a courageous and forthright manner, we are looking at a kinder, more civilized world,...the world of the Redemption.

“The Board felt that suspension from the Davis Cup, a competition that was founded 113 years ago to encourage better understanding through sport, would (be)…a fitting penalty for their unfortunate action.” - Francesco Ricci Bitti, ITF President

Algemeiner.com

November 4, 2013

Tunisia Suspended From Major Tennis  Tournament for Pulling Out of Match

Against Israeli

Tunisia has been suspended from the 2014 Davis Cup tennis tournament, one of the most important tournaments in men’s tennis, after one of its team members was ordered not to compete against an Israeli opponent last month.

Tunisia's top-ranked tennis player,
Malek Jaziri

Malek Jaziri, his country’s highest-ranked player at #215 in the world, withdrew from a match against Israel’s Amir Weintraub at the 2013 Tashkent Challenger in October citing a knee injury.

But Jaziri’s brother Amir, who also happens to be his coach, told AFP that he pulled out under orders from the Tunisian Tennis Federation not to play an Israeli. An email ordering Jaziri to pull out of the match was published by Tunisia’s state news agency. Tunisian sports ministry spokesman Sadok Touati confirmed that the federation sent the email after consulting the ministry.

In light of the revelation, The International Tennis Federation board voted unanimously to suspend the Tunisian Tennis Federation for one year from the Davis Cup.

“There is no room for prejudice of any kind in sport or in society. The ITF Board decided to send a strong message to the Tunisian Tennis Federation that this kind of action will not be tolerated by any of our members,” said ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti.

President, International Tennis Federation,
Francesco Ricci Bitti

 Excerpt from Commentary Magazine
Ben Cohen, Nov. 3, 2013

Malik Jaziri, the top-ranked tennis player in Tunisia who has an impressive record of representing his country in international tournaments, was about to play a quarterfinal match at the ATP Challenger Tournament in Uzbekistan last October. Moments before stepping onto the court, he received a career-shattering email from his bosses at the tennis federation back in Tunis.

Jaziri had been drawn against an Israeli professional, Amir Weintraub; the Tunisian tennis federation, which continues to follow the Arab League boycott of the State of Israel to the letter, declared this to be a red line that Jaziri was not permitted to cross. “Following a meeting this afternoon with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, I have the immense regret to inform you that you are ordered not to play against the Israeli player,” read the email. Jaziri had no choice but to withdraw and Weintraub went through to the semi-final on a forfeit.

It goes without saying that Jaziri himself was blameless in the matter. Interviewed after being forced to withdraw, he expressed the fear that the decision would badly damage his career. His brother and manager, Amir Jaziri, slammed the decision as “shocking, because it brings politics into sport.”  Meanwhile, Amir Weintraub himself described Jaziri as “a good friend,” adding wistfully that the Tunisian had “really wanted to play.”

That in of itself is not a surprise; after all, athletes live for competition, not political strife. But what is noteworthy is that the International Tennis Federation (ITF), mindful that this was not the first time that Israeli players had been subjected to a boycott, and anxious to bring the practice to an end, took unprecedented action.  Hence this statement released yesterday by the ITF’s Board of Directors at their meeting in Cagliari, Italy, confirming that Tunisia has been suspended from next year’s Davis Cup: 

The Board was not satisfied with the case put forward by the Tunisian Tennis Federation and voted to suspend Tunisia from the 2014 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas competition. The decision of the ITF Board was unanimous although ITF Board Member from Tunisia, Tarak Cherif, recused himself from the discussion and the vote.

The 2013 ITF Constitution states the ITF and its members must preserve the integrity and independence of Tennis as a sport and must carry out their objects and purposes without unfair discrimination on grounds of colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, age, sex or religion.

 “There is no room for prejudice of any kind in sport or in society,” said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. “The ITF Board decided to send a strong message to the Tunisian Tennis Federation that this kind of action will not be tolerated by any of our members.

“The Board felt that suspension from Davis Cup, a competition that was founded 113 years ago to encourage better understanding through sport, would provide a good lesson for the Federation and a fitting penalty for their unfortunate action.”

The decision of the ITF Board of Directors is final.