Ireland lose EuroBasket qualifier in overtime to Israel

Ireland's players shook hands with Israel's players before and after the match in Riga

Ireland fell to a 93-86 overtime defeat by Israel in 2027 Women's EuroBasket qualifying - a game played at a neutral venue at the request of Basketball Ireland.

After being drawn with Israel in qualifying in July, Basketball Ireland said it would "assess the next steps" and stated it was "extremely alarmed by the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza".

It ultimately said it would fulfil the fixture after "extensive deliberation", but only at a neutral venue.

Their qualifier with Israel was played in the Latvian city of Riga, and Ireland put in a strong performance and led 38-37 after the second quarter.

Israel responded to lead by two points heading in the final quarter, but James Weldon's side battled on.

Moments after Dorian Dahan Sujic missed a free throw to secure the win, Ireland raced up the other end and Sarah Hickey landed the two points needed to draw the game with two seconds left on the clock.

That sent the game to overtime, but Ireland could not build on their late momentum and suffered defeat.

After controversy in a previous qualifying campaign last year, players and coaches from both sides stood for the national anthems and shook hands before and after the game.

Handshakes after past controversy

It is not the first time Ireland have been drawn to face Israel since the ongoing conflict in Gaza started in October 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage.

More than 69,483 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military action in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Ireland refused to shake hands with Israel and stood at the side of the court for the national anthems in a 2025 EuroBasket qualifier in February 2024.

When Irish players raised concerns before that qualifier, Israel player Dor Saar said the Ireland team was "quite antisemitic".

Israel coach Sharon Drucker also said Ireland "did not respect" what the game symbolises, while Basketball Ireland said Saar's comments were "inflammatory and wholly inaccurate", and reported the remarks to European basketball's governing body Fiba Europe.

Ireland were warned by Fiba for their protest, and players stood for the anthems on court and shook hands with Israel's players in a second EuroBasket qualifier between the sides in Riga in November in 2024.

When discussing its decision in August to fulfil Tuesday's fixture, Basketball Ireland said it had "already experienced a 14-year absence from international basketball in the recent past" and any decision to not fulfil the fixtures with Israel would be "extremely damaging to Irish basketball and the women's game".

Sanctions could have included an 80,000 euros (£69,000) fine if Ireland boycotted the first fixture with Israel, and failure to play the return fixture would have led to an additional fine of 100,000 euros (£86,000) and removal from qualifying for 2027 and 2029 EuroBasket campaigns.

Ireland could have withdrawn before qualification started and been handed a 30,000 euros fine (£26,000), but FIBA Europe rules left the door open for further sanctions.