YOUNG Palestinian footballers look set to denied their dream fixture against a Blackburn Rovers XI - because they have been refused visas to enter the UK.

Soccer bosses are furious that a showpiece three-week tour by under 19 players from Gaza and the West Bank, will not now go ahead.

Palestinian officials are blaming the Foreign Office for refusing permission for the squad to travel to Britain.

The trip had been arranged by CAPE - Chester and Palestine Exchanges Ltd, a project aimed at introducing Palestinians to the British people in a positive way - and was set to feature fixtures against Chester City and Tranmere Rovers before the Blackburn game on September 8 at Ewood Park.

Rod Cox, of CAPE, said: "Although they will not provide reasons in writing, they say the decision was taken because the economic situation in Gaza, where the majority of the team are based, is so bad that they do not believe that the Palestinians will return home again.

"They deny taking the decision for any politically-motivated reason, although they did say at one point that it was because the Israelis would not allow them to return - and so would create a refugee issue, but they have since denied this."

Mr Cox is angry that the decision comes as the Israeli team prepares to meet England at Wembley on the same day as the axed Blackburn game.

He added: "This cannot fail to harden opinion against the British Government both in the Occupied Territories and in the UK."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We never comment on individual visa cases so we cannot comment on the reasons for the refusalsin this case.

"All applicants are required to demonstrate that they meet a number of requirements, including that they intend to leave the UK at the end of their stay."