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AMMAN — The Jordan Basketball Federation (JBF) said Sunday that it had officially withdrawn the U19 national team from a scheduled match against Israel in the ongoing FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Switzerland.
The federation confirmed in a statement that it had submitted a formal request to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) asking not to participate in the game, which was set to take place on Sunday in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Jordan’s refusal to compete against Israel gave the latter an automatic technical victory
JBF emphasised that its decision reflects the country's consistent and long-standing principles, reaffirming its commitment to these values in similar situations.
In remarks to the government-owned Al Mamlaka TV, JBF President Ahmad Hanandeh said that the decision followed a meeting of the federation’s board of directors, during which they unanimously agreed to boycott the match.
Hanandeh said that the move was made out of concern for the players’ well-being, citing the potential for harassment, bullying, or psychological pressure that could impact their safety and performance.
“Our players are a top priority, and the decision was taken after carefully considering all dimensions of the situation,” Hanandeh said.
He expressed hope that FIBA would understand the decision in the context of safeguarding players and recognise the challenges the Jordanian team might have faced had they taken part.
He also urged FIBA’s disciplinary committee to respond with fairness and avoid imposing penalties on the Jordanian Federation, its players, or its youth teams.
