Ireland women's basketball team refuse to shake hands with Israel before their EuroBasket 2025 qualifier in Riga.

In an interview on the Israeli Basketball Association’s website, Israeli player Dor Saar said before the game: "It’s known that they are quite anti-semitic and it’s no secret, and maybe that’s why a strong game is expected.

“We have to show that we’re better than them and win. We talk about it among ourselves. We know they don’t love us and we will leave everything on the field always and in this game especially.”

Basketball Ireland’s statement prior to the start of the game read: "Basketball Ireland informed Fiba Europe yesterday that as a direct result of recent comments made by Israeli players and coaching staff - including inflammatory and wholly inaccurate accusations of anti-Semitism, published on official Israeli Federation channels - that our players will not be partaking in traditional pre-match arrangements with our upcoming opponents.

      • NoLifeKing@ani.socialEnglish
        9·
        9 months ago

        Its not criticism to not shake the hands of Jewish people because Israel does XY

        Good they got owned in the game.

        • brainrein@feddit.deEnglish
          18·
          9 months ago

          Shame on you for not reading the article.

          First the Israeli team insulted them as being antisemitic, obviously because Ireland stands with Palestine.

          Therefore they refused to exchange politenesses in advance of the game.

          It was the Israelis who started behaving badly. You know just like the conflict that didn’t start on October 7.

          • NoLifeKing@ani.socialEnglish
            2·
            9 months ago

            I read the article, Israels team is right you are wrong Irlands team got served in the game.

        • Copp85@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          9 months ago

          Maybe read the article before you make inaccurate statements?

          They didn’t shake their hands because one of the players accused them of being antisemitic in an interview published on the team website

      • KISSmyOS@feddit.deEnglish
        8·
        9 months ago

        The volleyball team didn’t kill any Palestinian children.
        So how about don’t discriminate against them based on where they were born?

        • Copp85@lemmy.worldEnglish
          15·
          9 months ago

          You didn’t read the story did you? They didn’t shake their hands because one of the players accused the Irish team of being antisemitic. This was published the official team website

    • ultranaut@lemmy.worldEnglish
      21·
      9 months ago

      There doesn’t seem to be any evidence though. It looks like the Israeli team made unsubstantiated accusations so you can’t really blame the Irish team for reacting.