Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne says Basketball Ireland's decision to go ahead with today's women's EuroBasket qualifier against Israel will remain a matter for the sport's governing body but acknowledged that it may put individual players in a "very difficult position".
The match has been overshadowed by a campaign for Ireland's women's team to boycott the fixture, which will be played in Latvia due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Basketball Ireland insist they cannot afford the financial or competitive implications of not playing the game, with CEO John Feehan telling RTÉ Sport on Tuesday that the potential sanctions could set the Ireland women's team back a decade.
Ireland have a squad of 12 despite several players opting not to travel for the game, which will be played on neutral territory after Ireland refused to host the return fixture - due to be played in November - first instead.
On Wednesday, Basketball Ireland responded to accusations of anti-Semitism made by Israeli player, Dor Sa'ar, against the Irish women's team, calling the comments "inflammatory and wholly inaccurate", adding that they had reported the comments to governing body FIBA Europe.
Israel head coach Sharon Drucker also said that the Irish "did not respect" what sport symbolises after he and his players had posed for pictures with armed Israeli soldiers at the weekend.
With the match against Israel set to go ahead at 4pm in the Rimi Olympic Centre, Riga, Minister Byrne said in a statement that the Government recognised Basketball Ireland's autonomy in making the decision to fulfil the fixture and noted that other nations had "continued to honour fixture schedules with Israel".
"The Irish Government continues to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. The Government does not have a role in relation to the setting, or fulfilment, of sporting fixtures by any sporting organisation, including Basketball Ireland," Minister Byrne said.
באיחור של 3 חודשים, תפתח נבחרת הנשים שלנו את הופעותיה במסגרת מוקדמות אליפות אירופה 2025, מחר בשעה 18:00 (שידור בספורט 5+) נגד אירלנד. לפני האימון המסכם התקיים טקס ודקת דומיה לציון 4 חודשים לאירועי ה-7 לאוקטובר.
— איגוד הכדורסל הישראלי (@TherealIBBA) February 7, 2024
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"Ultimately, such matters are a decision for the sporting organisations themselves, which are independent and autonomous entities. In particular, the international federations (FIBA in the case of basketball), have a leadership role for their global games and it is at this level that strategic decisions should be taken rather than by individual NGBs.
"Basketball Ireland has made the decision to honour its fixture commitment. It has set out its reasons for doing so and we must acknowledge its independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision. It should also be acknowledged that this situation places individual players in a very difficult position.
"It should be noted that sporting entities in other countries have continued to honour fixture schedules with Israel."
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Minister Byrne said it was 'unfair' to expect players or even Basketball Ireland to be able to "navigate the world of international politics".
"My solidarity is with them, because the pressure is hugely under them. They are under the spotlight in a way they wouldn't be used to. The pressure was on this team before those photographs were taken or those statements were made this week," he said.
"I don't want our basketball players, basketball association, to have to navigate international foreign policy, these difficult situations. That is what the government is there for, that is what the Tánaiste is doing currently in Washington DC."
When it was suggested Israel's accusations of anti-Semitism may have stemmed from Basketball Ireland's unwillingness to host the fixture as they could not "guarantee the safety of the Israeli team", Minister Byrne responded strongly.
"I absolutely reject any accusation of anti-Semitism in this country," he said.
"The government does not get involved in fixtures. I think it is very unfair that sports organisations should have to navigate the world of international politics and international security."
Basketball and Gaelic football star Kieran Donaghy called on Ireland to boycott the fixture, saying its "it's never too late to do the right thing".
"They have worked so hard to play at this level and represent their country and they do so with immense pride. This decision should not sit solely on their shoulders," he posted on X.
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