Head of the Yemeni Chess Union and the Yemeni mission to the chess championship currently held in Belarus dismissed on Wednesday the local and regional reports that Yemen played against Israel and lost 4-0.

Abdul Karim Al-Otheri said the Yemeni team withdrew from the match and refused to appear in the game hall.

The World Chess Federation, however, posted the result on its website without pointing out that it was because of the withdrawal of the Yemeni team, he made clear.

The reports harmed Yemen and sport, but Yemen contacted the WCF and provided an official protest; and the WCF corrected the news, skipping the result and pointing out that Yemen had withdrawn from the match against Israel, he said.

Yemen only rejected playing with Israelis and the national chess team is still contesting against other countries at the championship, he said.

Al-Otheri's remarks came after Saba reported Tuesday that Youth and Sports Minister fired the board of directors of the Yemeni Chess Union and players currently participating in the championship after they met with Israelis.

Saba quoted the minister as saying meeting Israelis was personal act and not in line with Yemen's official stance rejecting any kind of normalization with Israel.

The players were notified before they headed to Belarus if one's lots brought them to play against an Israeli they would withdraw, it added, quoting the minister, who said the team withdrew from the championship and was expected back home soon.