Priti Patel cancels visas of Belarusian basketball team due to play World Cup Qualifier in Newcastle

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has announced the cancellation of the Belarusian men's basketball team visas following the alarming events in Ukraine.

The Home Secretary tweeted that: “The UK will not welcome the national sports teams of those countries who are complicit in Putin’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of #Ukraine.”

The match between GB and Belarus was due to be held on Monday at the Vertu Motors Arena, home of the Newcastle Eagles.

Go here for the very latest breaking news updates from across the North East

FIBA confirmed the fixture, the World Cup Qualifier, was postponed given Belarus's role in supporting Russia's 'unprovoked' invasion of Ukraine,

The Vertu Motors Arena, home of the Newcastle Eagles, shared this statement to their website.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifier between Great Britain and Belarus at the Vertu Motors Arena on Monday 28 February has been postponed.

In a statement on Friday evening, FIBA said: “The decision is based on the evaluation of the current security situation.

“FIBA is closely monitoring the security situation in Europe, as players’ and officials’ safety remain FIBA’s primary concern.”

Tickets purchased through the box office will be refunded and all ticket holders will receive an email notifying them of this process next week.

A rescheduled date for the game will be announced by FIBA in due course.