Irish players register protest before losing to Israel in qualifier

The Ireland women's basketball team refused to partake in the traditional pre-match handshake with their Israeli opponents at the pair's controversial Eurobasket 2025 qualifier in Riga this afternoon.

Having resisted widespread calls to boycott the game, Basketball Ireland were incensed by comments made by Israeli player Dor Sa'ar accusing the Irish of "anti-Semitism", branding the accusation "inflammatory and wholly innaccurate".

These comments followed those of Israeli coach Sharon Drucker, who said the Irish "did not respect" what sport symbolises after he and his players had posed for pictures with armed Israeli soldiers at the weekend.

Half an hour before tip-off this afternoon, Basketball Ireland announced that, in protest at recent comments from Israeli players and staff, the Irish team would "not be partaking in traditional pre-match arrangements with our upcoming opponents.

"This includes the exchanging of gifts, formal handshakes before and after the game, while our players will line up for the Irish national anthem by our bench rather than centre court."

They added that, "Basketball Ireland fully supports our players in their decision."

Ireland were defeated 87-57 by Israel in Riga, where where matters off the court overshadowed the Eurobasket 2025 qualifier pic.twitter.com/lJj9ZOdHrE

The Irish players followed through on their promise prior to tip-off, refusing to shake hands with their opponents and lining up by their bench for the rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann.

Israel won the fixture 87-57.

Ireland head coach James Weldon said: "I would prefer to be talking about basketball and not this, we didn't engage in the pre-match activities as a direct result of those unwarranted and unacceptable comments from the Israeli