The UAE embassy in The Netherlands said it never received a visa application from the footballer Dan Mori.
The Israeli national, who plays with the Dutch club Vitesse, could not join his team on a training trip to the UAE due to his passport and was forced to stay behind.
A reserve defender went in his stead.
After the club told The National and other media that Mori was not allowed to come to the UAE, the embassy in The Netherlands said they have been following the news “with interest” and that “there was no application or request made to us for this visit”.
newsdesk@thenaional.ae
