Latest news with #qualifiers
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ireland 'assessing next steps' after Israel draw
Basketball Ireland says it is "assessing next steps" after being drawn with Israel in a European qualifier. Ireland are set to face Israel, along with Luxembourg and Bosnia-Herzegovina, in 2027 EuroBasket qualifying in November. Basketball Ireland says it has spoken to Fiba Europe, European basketball's governing body, and is "extremely alarmed by the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza" and is awaiting "clarifications on a number of matters". It also says it will liaise with players, staff, the Irish government and other stakeholders. In a statement released on Wednesday, Basketball Ireland says it would be fined 80,000 euros if it does not fulfil the fixture on 18 November, and would face an additional 100,000 euro fine if it did not participate in the return fixture. It says Ireland would also be removed from qualifying and be banned from the 2029 EuroBasket qualifiers. A 30,000 euro fine would be imposed if Ireland elected to withdraw from qualifying before it starts, but Fiba Europe might impose additional sanctions and has the power to exclude teams from future competitions. Qualifying is set to take place over two windows in November 2025 and March 2026. It is not the first time Ireland have been drawn to face Israel since the ongoing conflict in Gaza started in October 2023. 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. Fiba have been contacted about Basketball Ireland's statement. BBC News coverage of the Israel-Gaza war
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Ireland 'assessing next steps' after Israel draw
Basketball Ireland says it is "assessing next steps" after being draw with Israel in a European qualifier. Ireland are set to face Israel, along with Luxembourg and Bosnia-Herzegovina, in 2027 EuroBasket qualifying in Ireland says it has spoken to Fiba Europe, European basketball's governing body, and is "extremely alarmed by the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza" and is awaiting "clarifications on a number of matters".It also says it will liaise with players, staff, the Irish government and other stakeholders. In a statement released on Wednesday, external, Basketball Ireland says it would be fined 80,000 euro if it does not fulfil the fixture on 18 November, and would face an additional 100,000 euro fine if it did not participate in the return says Ireland would also be removed from qualifying and be banned from the 2029 EuroBasket qualifiers.A 30,000 euro fine would be imposed if Ireland elected to withdraw from qualifying before it starts, but Fiba Europe may impose additional sanctions and has the power to exclude teams from future is set to take place over two windows in November 2025 and March is not the first time Ireland have been drawn to face Israel since the ongoing conflict in Gaza started in October 2023. 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 anti-Semitic".Israel coach Sharon Drucker also said Ireland "did not respect" what the game symbolises, while Basketball Ireland said that Saar's comments were "inflammatory and wholly inaccurate", and reported the remarks to European basketball's governing body Fiba 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 have been contacted about Basketball Ireland's statement.
Khaleej Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Poland coach Urban targets Lewandowski return as World Cup qualifiers loom
Poland's new manager Jan Urban said his immediate priority was persuading striker Robert Lewandowski to return to the national team. Urban was named on Wednesday to replace Michal Probierz, who resigned in June following a row over his decision to replace Lewandowski as captain. Poland sit third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Finland and the Netherlands and the Barcelona forward is widely seen as vital to their hopes of reaching next year's tournament. "I'll do everything... so that Robert comes back, because we know what situation Polish football is in," Urban told reporters on Thursday. Lewandowski, 36, is Poland's all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances. "As of today, we can't afford not to have Robert in this team," the new manager added. Urban acknowledged the challenges faced by Poland, following a 2-1 loss to Finland in June and amid uncertainty surrounding Lewandowski's role. "Above all, we're talking about this difficult moment not because of the defeat to Finland. We have several problems to solve, including the matter of Robert Lewandowski's resignation," Urban said. "All of this needs to be properly sorted out to build a good atmosphere for this team to function. "We're aiming for a situation where every player wants to come to the national team and feels good being part of it." Poland's next World Cup qualifier is against the Netherlands away on September 4 before they host Finland three days later.
CNA
17-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Poland's Urban targets Lewandowski return as World Cup qualifiers loom
WARSAW :Poland's new manager Jan Urban said his immediate priority was persuading striker Robert Lewandowski to return to the national team. Urban was named on Wednesday to replace Michal Probierz, who resigned in June following a row over his decision to replace Lewandowski as captain. Poland sit third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Finland and the Netherlands and the Barcelona forward is widely seen as vital to their hopes of reaching next year's tournament. "I'll do everything... so that Robert comes back, because we know what situation Polish football is in," Urban told reporters on Thursday. Lewandowski, 36, is Poland's all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances. "As of today, we can't afford not to have Robert in this team," the new manager added. Urban acknowledged the challenges faced by Poland, following a 2-1 loss to Finland in June and amid uncertainty surrounding Lewandowski's role. "Above all, we're talking about this difficult moment not because of the defeat to Finland. We have several problems to solve, including the matter of Robert Lewandowski's resignation," Urban said. "All of this needs to be properly sorted out to build a good atmosphere for this team to function. "We're aiming for a situation where every player wants to come to the national team and feels good being part of it."
Reuters
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Poland's Urban targets Lewandowski return as World Cup qualifiers loom
WARSAW, July 17 (Reuters) - Poland's new manager Jan Urban said his immediate priority was persuading striker Robert Lewandowski to return to the national team. Urban was named on Wednesday to replace Michal Probierz, who resigned in June following a row over his decision to replace Lewandowski as captain. Poland sit third in their World Cup qualifying group behind Finland and the Netherlands and the Barcelona forward is widely seen as vital to their hopes of reaching next year's tournament. "I'll do everything... so that Robert comes back, because we know what situation Polish football is in," Urban told reporters on Thursday. Lewandowski, 36, is Poland's all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances. "As of today, we can't afford not to have Robert in this team," the new manager added. Urban acknowledged the challenges faced by Poland, following a 2-1 loss to Finland in June and amid uncertainty surrounding Lewandowski's role. "Above all, we're talking about this difficult moment not because of the defeat to Finland. We have several problems to solve, including the matter of Robert Lewandowski's resignation," Urban said. "All of this needs to be properly sorted out to build a good atmosphere for this team to function. "We're aiming for a situation where every player wants to come to the national team and feels good being part of it." Poland's next World Cup qualifier is against the Netherlands away on September 4 before they host Finland three days later.
