Ireland take on Israel on Thursday afternoon, in a FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 qualifier which has caused controversy in recent weeks.
The game was initially scheduled to take place last October but was postponed due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which escalated after the October 7th attack by the Palestinian insurgent group.
Due to the ongoing conflict, the game will take place in a neutral venue in Riga, Latvia, though there have been calls for the Irish team to boycott the game in protest against Israeli military actions in Gaza.
To date, around 27,500 Palestinian citizens have been killed in the conflict, as the relentless siege of the Gaza Strip continues by the Israeli defence forces.
Several Irish players removed themselves from contention for selection ahead of the game due to unease surrounding the ongoing situation. Ahead of the game, Basketball Ireland have been forced to respond to a suggestion from Israel player Dor Sa'ar that the Irish team is "antisemitic."
Israel player labels Ireland as "antisemitic"
Speaking to the Israeli Basketball Federation's website earlier this week, Sa'ar claimed that the Israel team were fired up by a knowledge of Ireland's dislike for them, and accused the Irish team of being antisemitic:
It's known that they are quite antisemitic and it's no secret. 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 and in this game especially.
Basketball Ireland were quick to respond, releasing a statement on Wednesday which categorically denied the accusations against the team:
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.
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 and we have raised this matter with FIBA Europe.
Thursday's game will be played behind closed doors as a security precaution.
Earlier this week, speaking to Balls.ie, ex-basketball player Lindsay Peat said that the decision as to whether to boycott the game against Israel should not be left up to the players, and called on FIBA to step in.
The threat of an €80,000 fine and an "effective five-year-ban" for the Irish team should they boycott this game have been used as arguments against the team pulling out of the fixture.
Israel have this week welcomed IDF soldiers into their training camp, with head coach Sharon Drucker making strange remarks about the Irish team when calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Israel coach Sharon Drucker had this to say about facing Ireland (according to Google Translate. Not 100pc on the context but original version here: https://t.co/eAsNKbR6Ti) pic.twitter.com/7WGohGD87l
— Barry Lennon (@BarryDLennon) February 6, 2024
Israel v Ireland gets underway on Thursday afternoon at 4:30pm Irish time, against a dark backdrop.
SEE ALSO: "We Have Amateur Players, With The Horrific Situation It Should Be Taken Out Of Their Hands"
