The director of the Dubai Tennis Championships says it will pay a record $300,000 fine for the United Arab Emirates' refusal to grant a visa to Israeli player Shahar Peer.
Salah Tahlak says the tournament chiefs agreed Sunday to pay the penalties imposed by the WTA Tour Board, which rejected Dubai's appeal last week.
The UAE turned down Peer's visa request just before her planned arrival for the tournament in February.
The tour also demands that Dubai organizers confirm that qualifying Israeli players will get visas at least eight weeks in advance for the 2010 event.
Tahlak says he hopes all players can take part, but notes that organizers do not have full control over government issues.
