British Paralympic basketball team turn their backs on Israeli squad
As the anthem played, the British team turned their backs to their competitors. Staff of the British squad, however, respected the anthem
The British Paralympic wheelchair basketball team snubbed the Israeli team before a match on Saturday, turning their heads away as Hatikva was played.
The two teams faced off in a tournament ahead of the European Championship in October.
As the anthem played, the British team turned their backs to their competitors. Staff of the British squad, however, respected the anthem.
Moshe “Mutz” Matalon, chairman of the Israel Paralympic Committee, intends to issue a formal complaint to protest “the shameful behavior, which goes against the spirit of Paralympic sports.”
Israel lost the game 74-64 in the third and final game of the group stage of the Nations Cup, but secured 5th place in the tournament by defeating Poland 83-80 on Sunday.
Jewish News has approached the Israel Paralympic Committee, International Wheelchair Basketball Federation and Paralympics GB for comment.
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