Basketball Ireland have said refusing to play their FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifier against Israel would be "ruinous" after head coach James Weldon named his squad for Thursday's fixture.
Last week the Irish Sport for Palestine group made a public appeal for Ireland to boycott the game, with former Dublin footballer Michael Darragh MacAuley telling RTÉ Sport: "I know there's a possibility of sanctions, there's a possibility of fine afterwards, but in ten years' time it's going to be much more important that they didn't play this match than if they did."
Former Dublin footballer Michael Darragh MacAuley is part of the Irish Sport for Palestine group that today made a public appeal for Basketball Ireland to boycott its upcoming game against Israel - a game Basketball Ireland insist they are compelled to play #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/itcY7wODfd
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 1, 2024
The game was supposed to take place in Israel back in November, but was postponed until 8 February due to security concerns caused by the ongoing conflict in the region. Basketball Ireland requested the game takes place at a neutral venue, with Riga in Latvia selected.
If Ireland did not fulfil the fixture they'd have faced a fine from FIBA Europe of €80,000. Failure to play the return game in November would result in an additional fine of €100,000 from FIBA Europe, and removal from the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 tournament.
Speaking about the decision to play Israel, Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan said: "As we have previously stated, we're all very concerned about events in Gaza and are extremely sympathetic to dreadful situation that people are having to deal with.
"Basketball Ireland is obliged to play this fixture, because the ramifications of not doing so would be ruinous to the women’s international programme, as boycotting these games with Israel would lead to huge fines from FIBA of up to €180,000, along with an effective five-year ban for the team.
"I’d like to praise James Weldon, his staff and the players who’ve had to deal with off-court issues in the lead-up, but remain focused on putting in a performance on Thursday, as they target a win."
Weldon has included three uncapped players in his 12-person squad for the trip to Riga.
Seventeen-year-old Grace Prenter of Trinity Meteors, Ulster University’s Alex Mulligan and The Address UCC Glanmire’s Amy Dooley are all in line for their first caps.
Ireland are without captain Edel Thornton, who picked up an ACL injury playing for Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell eight days ago.
"It's obviously a blow to be missing Edel and other players, due to a variety of reasons," said Weldon.
"Our players are not all full-time pros and have to juggle work, study, sporting and personal commitments, among other things. However, we are building squad depth, we had four players make their FIBA Women’s EuroBasket bow against France in November - Annaliese Murphy, Lauryn Homan, Kate Hickey and Kara McCleane – and now we have three more players in line for their international debuts in this game.
"It will increase the pool of talent that we have at our disposal over the rest of the qualifying campaign, which is a huge positive."
IRELAND SQUAD
Amy Dooley (The Address UCC Glanmire), Bridget Herlihy (Ensio Lugo, Spain), Alex Mulligan (Ulster University), Kara McCleane (University of Galway Mystics), Grace Prenter (Trinity Meteors), Kate Hickey (SETU Waterford Wildcats), Sarah Hickey (SETU Waterford Wildcats), Lauryn Homan (Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell), Abigail Rafferty (Ulster University), Annalise Murphy (The Address UCC Glanmire), Sorcha Tiernan (FloMAX Liffey Celtics), Áine O’Connor (FloMAX Liffey Celtics)
