Jordan boycotts basketball match against 'Israel' over normalization

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
Today 12:44
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Jordan forfeits its FIBA U19 World Cup match against "Israel" in protest, following calls to avoid "sports normalization" amid the ongoing war on Gaza.

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A photo shows Jordna's under-19 national basketball team players (FIBA)

The highly anticipated under-19 basketball match between Jordan and "Israel", scheduled for Sunday evening in Lausanne, was officially canceled after the Jordanian team refused to participate, effectively forfeiting the game.

According to tournament rules, "Israel" will be awarded a 20–0 technical victory. The match was part of the FIBA U19 World Cup 2025 group stage, which also includes hosts Switzerland and the Dominican Republic.

Backlash against 'sports normalization'

The decision by Jordan follows growing public and political pressure not to engage in what has been widely criticized as an act of “sports normalization” with the Israeli occupation entity amid its ongoing war on Gaza.

Jordanian media, activists, and public figures had called on the team to withdraw, with hashtags such as “Our team against normalization” trending across social media.

Attorney Hala Ahed, a prominent voice in Jordan, wrote on X: “What sportsmanship is there in playing a team representing a state committing genocide in Gaza?”

Reactions from Israeli officials

Israeli coach Sharon Avrahami’s squad had hoped the match would proceed, but Jordan made its decision official by midday Sunday.

Chairman of the Israel Basketball Association, Amos Frishman, responded, "I regret Jordan’s decision not to play. I had hoped they would take the court to show the world a different way, especially during these times. Sports should be a bridge between cultures—not a political battlefield."

'Israel' devastates Palestinian sports

But Frishman failed to mention that since "Israel" launched its brutal war on Gaza, its military has killed at least 708 Palestinian athletes, including 95 children, according to the Palestinian Sports Media Association.

According to Mustafa Siyam, head of the PSMA, the victims include 369 football players, 105 scouting organization members, and 234 athletes from various sports federations.

He noted that the numbers are not final due to ongoing airstrikes, missing persons under the rubble, and restricted access to affected areas.

Siyam revealed that 273 sports facilities, including stadiums, gyms, and clubhouses, have been partially or completely destroyed by Israeli attacks.

He accused "Israel" of intentionally targeting Palestinian sports as a fundamental part of Gaza’s social and cultural identity, calling the assaults an "existential challenge" for the sports community.

“These attacks will significantly impact the future of Palestinian sports in the Gaza Strip and have devastating effects on thousands of athletes,” Siyam stated.

FIBA rules and possible disciplinary action

Under current FIBA regulations, teams are permitted to miss up to two games in group play without automatic disqualification.

Jordan appears to have relied on this rule to forfeit the game without being ejected from the tournament, though FIBA may still impose further disciplinary measures.