SIDELINES : Players Tourney May Leave Fla.

An appeals court barred further development on the site of the International Players Championships in a ruling that may cause the annual, $2.5-million tennis tournament to leave South Florida.

An agreement between the tournament and the men’s and women’s professional tennis groups requires a permanent stadium on Key Biscayne by 1992. The March event has been held in a temporary, 12,000-seat stadium since it moved here from Palm Beach County in 1987.

The 3rd District Court of Appeal agreed with Key Biscayne residents who filed suit against Dade County saying the tournament violates a deed restriction imposed when the land was donated to the county in 1940.

Tournament Chairman Butch Buchholz said Tuesday’s ruling means the event will have to go elsewhere. There has been speculation about the tournament moving to Phoenix or Palm Springs.