Jordanian Basketball Team Boycotts Israel

A Jordanian basketball team refused to take the court against Israel at the International Basketball Association (FIBA) World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland, on June 29. Though the Jordan Basketball Federation (JBF) claimed the decision not to field their team for players 19 years old and younger was based on “security concerns” and “psychological pressure,” functionally, it is boycotting its Israeli counterpart.

Hostility to Israel Preceded Jordanian Forfeit

The Jordanian boycott followed weeks of activist pressure and internal deliberations. The JBF stressed that its decision “aligns with its principles and steadfast positions in such circumstances,” according to official Jordanian media. JBF president Mohammad al-Hanandeh said the decision was made to protect players from potential harassment. But a Jordanian source stated that the boycott was intended to “prevent a big political storm.” By offering an opaque explanation, Jordan hopes to both placate those pressuring for a boycott and avoid the penalties associated with a political boycott.

Amman’s boycott also reflects a broader deterioration in its diplomatic posture toward Jerusalem. In November 2023, Jordan’s parliament unanimously voted to review all agreements with Israel, including its deal to import Israeli gas and the 1994 peace treaty. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has accused Israel of committing genocide and of trying to “empty Gaza of its people.” And on the flashpoint issue of Jerusalem, the foreign ministry has falsely accused Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem of “storming” the al-Aqsa Mosque, which sits near the site of the former Jewish temple on the Temple Mount.

Jordan’s Boycott Violates Non-Discrimination Principles

Article 1.3 of the General Statutes of FIBA, the international basketball sporting body, states that the organization “maintains absolute political and religious neutrality and does not tolerate any form of discrimination.” Jordan’s decision to boycott Israel, based on the nationality of its opponents, is a direct affront to this principle.

Jordan’s forfeit resulted in a 20-0 technical victory for Israel. Despite the Hashemite Kingdom’s blatant violation of FIBA’s principles of non-discrimination and fair play, to avoid disrupting the tournament, the federation has not sanctioned the Jordanian team beyond the technical loss.

Sports Boycotts Against Israel: Not the First Time

Israeli athletes have long faced discrimination in international sports, often under the guise of “safety.” In January 2024, the Royal Dutch Mountaineering and Climbing Club (NKBV) barred an Israeli climber from a competition, citing “the safety of the other competitors, our team, and the visitors.”

The same month, the International Ice Hockey Federation initially banned Israel from a tournament in Bulgaria, citing security concerns. The decision was reversed only after pressure from America’s National Hockey League and just before the Court of Arbitration for Sport was set to hear the case.

Unsportsmanlike behavior toward Israel goes beyond boycotts. In April, members of the Swiss under-23 fencing team turned their backs to the Israeli team during the Israeli anthem at the European Championships in Estonia. This concerning trend extends even to those merely associated with Israel. Jewish cricketer David Teeger was stripped of his under-19 captaincy in South Africa after praising Israeli soldiers. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee even launched a hate-speech investigation against Teeger. Jordan’s apparent boycott is merely the latest example in a decades-long campaign to erase Israel from the sporting world, which includes the massacre of 11 members of the Israeli delegation at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Enforcement Is the Only Way To Prevent Discrimination

Sidelining Israeli athletes for claimed security concerns has the same effect as overtly political boycotts. In this case, FIBA must act decisively. At a minimum, it should fine Jordan and suspend it from future youth competitions until it commits to playing Israel when matches come up in the draw. Anything less will signal that political boycotts are tolerable, even when they violate the core values of international sports, such as fair play and nondiscrimination. Upholding these values requires more than rhetoric — it demands enforcement.

David May is a research manager and senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where Tzur Goldin is an intern. For more analysis from the author and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow David on X @DavidSamuelMay. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.