/world sport
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Muslim leaders have urged Malaysians to boycott a planned visit from English Premier League club Chelsea after their government decided to allow the London side's Israeli manager Avram Grant and defender Tal Ben Haim to enter the country.
The presence of Grant and Ben Haim could lead to Muslims boycotting Chelsea's game in Malaysia.
Spokesman Mohamad Azmi Abdul Hamid said the coalition of 21 Muslim groups would hold a mass protest at the tour match if the government did not bar the pair.
"Malaysians should boycott the match," said Mohamad Azmi. "We should unite with the Palestinian people and fight for an independent homeland for them."
Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and its citizens must obtain special permission to travel here.
"The reason for the travel ban to Malaysia is to isolate Israel which is a rogue state. If the Israeli footballers are allowed in, the government will be considered as being insensitive to the Palestinian people," Mohamad Azmi said.
He warned that if Grant and Ben Haim were allowed into Malaysia, the coalition would picket Chelsea's match against a Malaysian team on July 29. "Definitely, we will mobilize the public and hold a protest outside the stadium," he said. E-mail to a friend 
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