WASHINGTON (AFP) – The Wall Street Journal Europe has revoked its sponsorship of the WTA Dubai Open women’s tennis tournament because the United Arab Emirates has denied a visa to Israeli player Shahar Peer.

“The Wall Street Journal’s editorial philosophy is free markets and free people, and this action runs counter to the Journal’s editorial direction,” the newspaper owned by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch said in a statement.

The newspaper’s move follows a decision by the Tennis Channel not to televise the Dubai tournament to protest the action against 21-year-old Peer, the world number 48.

“Preventing an otherwise qualified athlete from competing on the basis of anything other than merit has no place in tennis or any other sport, and has the unfortunate result of undermining the credibility of the very nature of competition itself,” the Tennis Channel said in a statement announcing its decision.