Irish Wheelchair Basketball Team Faces Scrutiny and Boycott Calls Ahead of European Qualifiers Against Israel
Ahead of their Women’s B division European Championship qualifier against Israel, players on the Irish women’s wheelchair basketball team intend to sport black armbands and lower their heads while the national anthem plays. The fixture is scheduled for Wednesday, 14 October, rte.ie reported. A similar approach to the one adopted by Republic of Ireland soccer players during their pair of UEFA Nations League matches against Israel will be undertaken by the squad.
The decision to proceed with the match has drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups, including Irish Sport for Palestine and Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine. These organizations have called on the Irish team to cancel and boycott the game. Political pressure has also mounted, with Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews raising the issue in the Seanad last month. He pointed out that the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is a national charity receiving significant national funding.
Political Objections and Charity Funding Scrutiny
Senator Andrews argued that disability sport should face the same level of accountability as mainstream athletics. “This issue should not receive less scrutiny because it is a wheelchair basketball team, rather than a football team,” he said in the Seanad. “Disability sport should not be patronised and held to a different standard.”
Senator Andrews also criticized the IWA’s online fundraising pages, which initially omitted any mention of the scheduled match against Israel. The IWA responded that this concern was raised with them on 14 August and that the feedback was addressed by adding a list of the four competing teams by 18 August. The association explained that such fundraising pages exist to help friends, family, and supporters offset international competition costs that regular funding does not fully cover. According to the IWA, the focus of the pages remained on fundraising rather than individual match fixtures, and there was no intention to mislead donors.
Irish Wheelchair Association Board Defense
In an official statement, the IWA stated that its board bears full responsibility for the final decision to play the match. However, the association emphasized that player consultation remains an integral part of the process. “This decision was not taken lightly,” the IWA statement said. “We agree that disability sport should be held to the same standards of accountability and scrutiny as any other sport. IWA-Sport has never sought different treatment in this regard. We believe that athletes with disabilities deserve the same opportunities, respect and recognition as all other athletes.”
It remains unclear whether the team will face any disciplinary sanctions from the competition organizers, the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, for staging their planned protest with black armbands and bowed heads during the anthem.
Tournament Schedule and Traveling Contingent
The team has already begun traveling ahead of the competition, which begins tomorrow in Nottwil, Switzerland, and runs through Sunday. The squad’s opening match takes place on Tuesday against the Women of Europe, followed by the game against Israel on Wednesday, and a final group fixture against Turkey on Thursday. Those matches will determine whether the Irish team advances to the semi-finals.
The traveling delegation includes eight female amateur wheelchair basketball players, two minors, and five support volunteers covering coaching, management, and safeguarding roles.
Frequently Asked Questions About the European Championship Qualifiers
When and where are the European Championship qualifiers taking place?
The tournament takes place in Nottwil, Switzerland, running from Tuesday through Sunday, with the match against Israel scheduled for Wednesday, 14 October.
What specific protests are the Irish players planning?
Players plan to bow their heads during the national anthem and wear black armbands before their match against Israel, mirroring actions taken previously by Republic of Ireland football players.
Who governs wheelchair basketball competitions in this division?
The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation organizes the competition, though it remains unconfirmed if they will penalize the Irish team for the protest.
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