Ireland issued official warning over Israel basketball protest

The Irish team refused to exchange handshakes and stood by their bench for their national anthems in protest at Israeli player Dor Saar accusing the Irish team of being 'quite anti-Semitic'

The Ireland team stand by their bench as they stand for their national anthem before the FIBA Women's EuroBasket Championship Qualifier match between Israel and Ireland at the Rimi Olympic Centre in Riga, Latvia. Photo: Oksana Dzadan/Sportsfile

Basketball Ireland and its senior women’s team were issued an official warning” by FIBA Europe for “unsportsmanlike conduct” in the wake of last February’s EuroBasket qualifier against Israel.

The match played behind closed doors in Riga, Latvia, was surrounded in controversy, with the Israeli team pictured beforehand with armed forces and guns courtside at training, while the Irish team refused to exchange handshakes either side of the game and stood by their bench for their national anthems in protest at Israeli player Dor Saar accusing the Irish team of being “quite anti-Semitic”.

A spokesperson for FIBA Europe at the time said the body would await the report of the match commissioner before deciding whether to take any disciplinary action, and following a query from the Irish Examiner it emerges Ireland have received an official warning.

“[The match] was subject to an investigation by FIBA Europe, who applied their independent disciplinary process,” Basketball Ireland said in a statement issued to the Irish Examiner.

“Basketball Ireland’s players and staff elected not to undertake the formal pre-match protocols (handshakes and exchange of gifts), nor formal post-match handshakes. As stated at the time, this was due to the unfounded accusations of antisemitism made prior to the fixture by an Israeli player and published on the Israeli Basketball Association website and social media channels.

“As a result of Ireland not taking part in pre- or post-game formalities, the independent judge appointed by FIBA Europe cited a breach of article 110 of FIBA internal regulations: ‘Parties shall not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct.’ Basketball Ireland were issued with an official warning.” 

While Basketball Ireland were consulted as part of the investigation and did receive a subsequent letter from FIBA Europe informing them of their official warning, it did not receive a full report.

While it has yet to be established what disciplinary measures or warnings were issued to the Israel party, what is known is that Saar received no suspension and was free to play against Ireland in a 3x3 FIBA tournament in Freiburg in July and scored a game-high nine points in a 15-9 win.

She could also be playing against Ireland again next month. The return Eurobasket qualifier is scheduled for November 10, in Riga once more.