Basketball Ireland rejects Israeli player’s claim of anti-Semitism
BASKETBALL Ireland has strongly rejected an accusation of anti-Semitism made by an Israeli player ahead of today’s women’s EuroBasket 2025 qualifying clash, calling the allegation ‘inflammatory and wholly inaccurate’.
In an interview with the Israeli basketball federation, Dor Sa’ar, 24, a US-based player, labelled Ireland’s team as ‘quite antiSemitic’, adding fuel to the controversy over the game involving the two countries.
The Irish team and Basketball Ireland have come under pressure from the Irish Sport For Palestine group to boycott the match – which has been moved to Riga in Latvia from Tel Aviv because of security concerns – in protest at Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza.
However, Basketball Ireland explained that such a stance will result in a fine of upwards of
‘We have huge sympathy’
€180,000 and a five-year suspension from international competition, with CEO John Feehan saying he was not prepared to risk the future of his sport.
Commenting earlier this week, Mr Feehan said: ‘In simple terms, between Ireland and Israel there is over a billion euro worth of trade every year.
‘Why basketball is the one that gets hammered… we have huge sympathy for what is happening in Gaza, but is it going to make a blind bit of difference if we make a grand gesture?
‘The simple answer to that is no, and I am not prepared to destroy my sport for a gesture that will have no impact.’
However, the situation has become more fraught in the past 48 hours. On Tuesday afternoon, the Israeli federation added more fuel to the fire by posting photos on social media which showed their players posing with IDF soldiers, with one picture showing an assault weapon lying at the side of the court as the players trained.
On the same day, Ms Sa’ar’s interview appeared on the website while coach Sharon Drucker called for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Ms Sa’ar said of the Irish team: ‘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 like us and we will leave everything on the field always, in this game especially.’
Basketball Ireland expressed disappointment yesterday at the comments and said that it is going to raise the issue with sporting body FIBA Europe.
‘Basketball Ireland is aware of comments made by a member of the Israeli team and published on official Israeli Federation channels, ahead of this week’s FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025 qualifier,’ it said.
‘Basketball Ireland is extremely disappointed by these accusations, which are both inflammatory and wholly inaccurate. Basketball Ireland would refute these allegations towards our players in the strongest possible terms.’
The EuroBasket 2025 qualifying match was originally scheduled to be played in Tel Aviv last November, but was postponed following the outbreak of the conflict after the Hamas attack of October 7. FIBA Europe rearranged the fixture to be played behind closed doors in Riga today at 4pm Irish time.
The Irish team have come under increased pressure to boycott the match, with former international player Rebecca O’Keeffe a prominent voice.
Five members of the Ireland squad are believed to have privately refused to play in the fixture.
Under pressure to boycott the fixture