Soccer: Six Chelsea players refuse to travel to Israel

Chelsea will fly to Israel without six first-team players who have pulled out of the Uefa Cup clash fearing for their safety.

Skipper Marcel Desailly, Emmanuel Petit, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Graeme Le Saux, William Gallas, and Albert Ferrer have all taken up the option of missing the trip to face Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Tension in the country increased on Wednesday following the shooting of the country's Tourism Minister, Rehavam Zeevi, in Jerusalem.