Basketball chief rejects Israel boycott
BASKETBALL Ireland chief John Feehan insisted a boycott of our game against Israel in today’s FIBA Women’s Eurobasket 2025 qualifier wouldn’t “make a blind bit of difference”.
It was originally due to take place in Israel on November 9 last but was postponed due to the conflict in the region and later rescheduled for a neutral venue in Riga, Latvia.
However, controversial photos were published online this week of the Israeli team posing with armed members of the Israeli Defence Forces at a sports hall in Tel Aviv.
Calls have been made for Basketball Ireland to boycott the fixture.
Irish Sport for Palestine said playing the game would make would make us complicit in sportswashing Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
However, despite the pressure for a boycott, Mr Feehan said he is not willing to do so.
He added: “We have huge sympathy for what’s happening in Gaza.
“All the players, whether they’re in Latvia or not, feel the same way.
“The reality is, is it going to make a blind bit of difference if we make a grand gesture and the simple answer to that is, in our view, no.”
Mr Feehan said he is “not prepared to destroy my sport for a gesture that will have no impact”.
A statement from Irish Sport for Palestine said: “It was all smiles as the Israeli basketball team posed with gun- carrying members of the IDF war machine ahead of Thursday’s qualifier against Ireland.
“Defying public opinion, this is what Basketball Ireland and its CEO John Feehan have signed up to: Sportswashing Israeli genocide.
“John Feehan claims boycotting the game against Israel would be ‘ ruinous’ for Basketball Ireland.
“Well Irish Sport for Palestine says not in our name, and that playing with Israel will forever be ‘ ruinous’ for his and Basketball Ireland’s reputation.
“Israeli basketball coach Sharon Drucker said ‘ Sport symbolizes something and the Irish didn’t respect that’.
“Irish Sport for Palestine reiterates that Basketball Ireland cannot look the other way and be complicit in the grotesque sport- washing of Israeli genocide.
“They must commit to boycotting the Israeli match now.”