The Irish women’s basketball team refused to shake hands with Israeli players before the EuroBasket 2025 qualifying match, bbc.com reports.

Basketball Photo: Michael Sullivan/CSM/Shutterstock Editorial/Profimedia

Israeli player Dor Saar said on Wednesday that the Ireland team is “very anti-Semitic”.

Basketball Ireland said the comments were “inflammatory and completely inaccurate”.

In addition, Irish football players lined up for their national anthem near the bench instead of at midfield before the game, which Israel won 87-57, according to News.ro.

Basketball Ireland said in a pre-match statement that the team will not be participating in “traditional pre-match arrangements”.

The match, which was moved to Riga due to the ongoing war in Gaza, took place despite pressure from Basketball Ireland to boycott the game.

Earlier this week, Basketball Ireland chief executive John Feehan said the Irish team could face heavy fines and suspension from the competition if the team boycotted matches against Israel.

He suggested a boycott would “destroy our women’s international game for the next 10 years”.