<p>When the Ireland women’s team played Israel in EuroBasket qualification on Thursday, it disregarded customary pre-game etiquette because an Israeli player had allegedly made antisemitic remarks.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-392759″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/theindiaprint.com-ireland-refuses-to-shake-hands-with-israel-at-the-basketball-qualifier-over-allega.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com ireland refuses to shake hands with israel at the basketball qualifier over allega” width=”1002″ height=”668″ title=”Ireland refuses to shake hands with Israel at the basketball qualifier over allegations of antisemitism 3″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/theindiaprint.com-ireland-refuses-to-shake-hands-with-israel-at-the-basketball-qualifier-over-allega.jpg 510w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/theindiaprint.com-ireland-refuses-to-shake-hands-with-israel-at-the-basketball-qualifier-over-allega-150×100.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1002px) 100vw, 1002px” /></p>
<p>Basketball Ireland reported the charges made by Israel player Dor Saar via the Israeli Basketball Association’s official channels to FIBA Europe, the organization’s regulatory body. Ireland would have been subject to penalties, hence the idea of forfeiting the game was rejected.</p>
<p>Instead, due of the conflict in Gaza, there were no introductions or handshakes before to the qualifier in Riga, Latvia.</p>
<p>A statement on Thursday said, “Basketball Ireland informed FIBA Europe yesterday that our players will not be partaking in traditional pre-match arrangements with our upcoming opponents as a direct result of recent comments made by Israeli players and coaching staff — including inflammatory and wholly inaccurate accusations of antisemitism, published on official Israeli federation channels.”</p>
<p>“This includes giving and receiving presents, shaking hands formally before and after the game, and having our players line up behind our bench rather than in the middle of the court for the national anthem. Our athletes’ decision is completely supported by Basketball Ireland.</p>
<p>Although the federation said that it was not possible for Ireland to boycott the game, a number of players chose not to go to Riga.</p>
<p>“It’s no secret that they are quite antisemitic, so perhaps a strong game is expected,” the American student Saar said in an interview that was released by the Israeli Basketball Association.</p>
<p>“We must defeat them and demonstrate that we are superior to them. We discuss it among ourselves. We know they don’t love us, and we’re going to give it our best on the field—especially in this game.</p>
<p>Israel prevailed 87–57. The teams are grouped alongside Latvia and France. Israel will visit Ireland on November 10.</p>
