The Palestine Football Association (PFA) has asked European football´s governing body Uefa to bar Israel from hosting a tournament next year over Palestinian players in detention.

Israel is due to host the European Under-21 championship in 2013.

PFA President Jibril Rajoub wrote to Uefa to express concern about three Palestinian players who are being held in Israel without charge.

One of them, midfielder Mahmoud al-Sarsak, is on hunger strike.

´No freedom´ Last week, human rights groups warned that the former star player is close to death after more than 80 days without food.

Mr Rajoub wrote to Uefa President Michel Platini to say that Israel´s government is in "direct violation" of regulations set out by Fifa, football´s world governing body .

"For athletes in Palestine, there is no real freedom of movement and the risks of being detained or even killed are always looming before their eyes," he said in the letter.

In addition to Sarsak, Olympic squad goalkeeper Omar Abu Rois and Ramallah player Mohammed Nimr are being held in Israel without trial.

On Tuesday, Fifa expressed its concern over the fate of 25 year-old Mahmoud al-Sarsak and asked Israel´s football association to take action. (© BBC MMXII 06/14/12)