Basketball Ireland: Next steps assessed after drawing Israel in Eurobasket qualification

Basketball Ireland says “evaluates the following steps” after the European qualifier “evaluates the following steps”

Ireland is set to face Israel, together with Luxembourg and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 2027. Eurobasket qualifying in November.

Basketball Ireland says she talked to FIBA Europe, the ruling authority of the European Basketball and “is an extremely alarming current humanitarian situation in Gaza” and waiting for “clarification” to several things. “

It is also said that it will connect with players, staff, Irish government and other stakeholders.

In Statement published on Wednesday, externalBasketball Ireland says it will be fined from 80,000 euros if it does not meet the fixture 18. November and would face additional 100,000 euros if it did not participate in the return matches.

He says Ireland will also be removed from qualifications and prohibited from the qualifier of 2029 Eurobasket.

It was sentenced in a fine of 30,000 euros, if Ireland chose to withdraw from qualifications before starting, but FIBA Europe may impose additional sanctions and has the power to exclude teams from future competitions.

Qualifications are placed to take place over two windows in November 2025. And 2026. Marta.

It is not the first time that Ireland is made to face Israel, because the current conflict in Gaza began in October 2023. years.

Ireland refused to handle With Israel and stood on the court side for national anthems in the qualifier from 2025. Eurobasket in February 2024. years.

When Irish players set worries before that qualifier, Israel Player Dor Saar said that the Irish team was “quite anti-Semitic.”

Israeli coach Sharon Drucker also said that Ireland “did not respect what the game was symbolized, while basketball Ireland said that Saar’s comments were” inflammatory and completely inaccurate “.

Ireland Fiba warned for their protest, and players were standing for hymns in court and shaken and sharks of Israel in the second Eurobasket qualifications between the parties in Riga in November.

FIBA was contacted about the statement of basketball Ireland.