Ireland’s women’s basketball team caused a stir at the EuroBasket 2025 qualifier in Riga when they declined to shake hands with the Israeli players. The Israeli Basketball Association had previously published an interview in which player Dor Saar accused the Ireland team of antisemitism. In response, Basketball Ireland issued a statement refuting the allegations, resulting in the Irish team refusing to participate in traditional pre-match arrangements with Israel.
The match, which took place in Riga due to the conflict in Gaza, faced calls for a boycott from activists. However, the Irish government stated that it could not intervene in the matter, leaving the decision to proceed with the game up to the world governing body. Despite the criticisms and controversy leading up to the game, Ireland did not boycott, and the match proceeded behind closed doors for security reasons.
The fallout from the pre-game controversy continued as Ireland’s refusal to engage in full pre-match activities was justified by coach James Weldon, who expressed his preference for focusing on basketball rather than off-court drama. On the other hand, Israel’s coach and captain criticized the Irish team for their behaviour and suggested that Ireland deserved the outcome of the game as a result of their actions.
Looking ahead, Ireland is scheduled to host Israel in the return fixture on November 10.
In conclusion, the clash between Ireland and Israel at EuroBasket 2025 has sparked controversy and diplomatic tensions. The refusal to engage in pre-match formalities and the subsequent comments from both sides have brought politics and sport into focus. Whether the two teams will be able to put aside their differences in the upcoming fixture remains to be seen.