Israeli soccer star Itay Schechter was forced to miss his British team’s visit to Dubai as a result of ongoing political tensions between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, The Jewish Chronicle reported.

Schechter, 25, who plays for Swansea City, was prevented from attending the six-day group training session, as the UAE does not recognize the state of Israel’s right to exist.

Israeli passport holders can be arrested and deported on entering the UAE without obtaining a special visa in advance.

Schechter has previously been the victim of anti-Semitic abuse when he was given a Nazi salute during a training session. He has joined his former team in Israel, Hapoel Tel Aviv, to train ahead of a Premier League match this Sunday.

“Cancelling the trip was a possibility,” Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said, according to The Daily Mail, “but I thought we’d just made the arrangements and then would have to change.”

“When we have to plan this again then we will look into if all our players can come,” Laudrup said.