Eire's girls's basketball crew refused to shake palms with their Israeli rivals forward of their EuroBasket 2025 qualifier in Riga, Latvia on Thursday after an Israeli participant accused the crew of anti-Semitism.
Israeli participant Dor Saar stated on Wednesday that the Irish crew was “fairly anti-Semitic”, in response to the BBC. Her feedback adopted requires Crew Eire to boycott the match.
Basketball Eire launched a press release earlier than kick-off asserting: “Basketball Eire knowledgeable Fiba Europe yesterday that as a direct results of current feedback made by Israeli gamers and training employees – together with inflammatory and utterly inaccurate allegations of anti-Semitism, posted on official Israel Federation channels – that our gamers won’t take part in conventional pre-match agreements with our upcoming opponents.”
“This consists of exchanging items, formal handshakes earlier than or after the sport, whereas our gamers stand for the Irish anthem at our bench, not at heart courtroom,” the assertion continued.
“Basketball Eire absolutely helps our gamers of their determination,” the assertion concluded.
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Creator and former trans influencer Oli London shared a brief video clip of what occurred earlier than the sport. The Israeli crew and training employees lined up throughout the free throw line at one finish of the courtroom, whereas Eire's gamers and coaches remained lined up at their bench.
“The Irish women basketball crew REFUSES to shake palms with the Israeli crew taking part in in opposition to them,” London wrote.
The Irish women' basketball crew REFUSED to shake palms with the Israeli crew taking part in in opposition to them.
The Israeli crew then defeated them 87:57. pic.twitter.com/vO3Hine9ah
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 8, 2024
Israel received the sport 87-57.
In an interview posted on the Israel Basketball Affiliation's web site earlier this week, Sa'ar stated: “They’re recognized to be fairly anti-Semitic and it's no secret, and perhaps that's why a powerful recreation is predicted.”
“We’ve to indicate that we’re higher than them and win. We speak about it amongst ourselves. We all know they don't love us and we all the time go away every little thing on the sphere and on this match particularly,” she continued.
Israel coach Sharon Drucker stated earlier than the sport that Eire “disrespected” what the sport symbolized after Irish gamers expressed issues about taking part in, the BBC reported.
The sport was moved to Riga because of the ongoing warfare between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The match was performed regardless of Crew Eire going through stress to boycott the sport. Irish Sport for Palestine known as for a boycott of the warfare, the portal reported.
Earlier within the week, Basketball Eire chief government John Feehan stated the Irish crew would face heavy fines and expulsion from the competitors if the crew boycotted video games in opposition to Israel, in response to the BBC.
He instructed {that a} boycott would “spoil our girls's worldwide recreation for the subsequent 10 years”.
