DUBLIN, Ireland – The Irish women’s national basketball team made headlines when they refused to shake hands with the Israeli women’s national team ahead of the first game of the 2025 Women’s EuroBasket qualifier in Riga, Latvia.
According to Basketball Ireland, the team cited recent inflammatory comments made by the Israeli players and coaching staff as the reason for their decision to not participate in pre-match formalities.
The decision to not shake hands or engage in pre-match activities was supported by Basketball Ireland, as the team opted to stand for the national anthem by their bench rather than center court.
The Irish team’s actions were met with controversy, as Israeli player Dor Sa’ar accused the Irish team of being antisemitic. Despite the tension, Israel went on to defeat Ireland 87-57.
Following the game, Israel’s head coach Sharon Drucker expressed shock at the Irish team’s actions, stating that he had never seen such behavior in his many years in sports.
The head coach of the Irish team, James Weldon, commended his players for their maturity in handling the pressured situation and refrained from commenting further on the pre-game incidents. The team also faced potential fines and penalties from FIBA if they had boycotted the game against Israel.
The refusal of the Irish team to participate in pre-game formalities has sparked debate and raised questions about sportsmanship and political tensions intersecting on the international stage. The incident also sheds light on the broader impact of geopolitical conflicts on the world of sports.