A European netball tournament due to take place in Cardiff next week has been cancelled after organisers cited “safeguarding” concerns amid a campaign to ban the Israeli national team.
The event, scheduled to run from May 7 to 11 at the Cardiff City House of Sport, was called off on Tuesday by Europe Netball, which suggested it was due to safety concerns.
In a statement, the organisation said: “The safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in our events – players, coaches, officials, volunteers and fans – is always our top priority. It is with regret that we announce the cancellation of our Open Tournament at Cardiff next week.
“This decision has not been made lightly but reflects our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our netball family and ensuring a positive experience for all.”
The move follows a campaign led by anti-Israel activists demanding the Israeli team’s exclusion.
The Israeli team’s coach alleged that there had been a “scare campaign” by a vocal minority to block its participation.
Speaking to the JC, national netball squad coach, Shan Berman, said: “The teams are devastated. It is horrible. Everyone has trained for such a long time and put in so much money and effort.”
Berman also criticised a “minority” of activists who “created a lot of noise and fear.”
The Israeli squad, composed of 12 players aged 17 to 30, had not received any direct threats, according to Berman, but she claimed that all of the netball teams slated to play had been concerned about protesters plans to “disrupt” the games.
“It is horrible that you’re allowed to come out against a certain group of people. It shouldn’t be allowed anywhere. I don’t know why it is tolerated [in the UK],” Berman added. “It is a scary thought that people have to be fearful of their life, fearful of being attacked on the street. It was a vocal minority who bullied and scared people.”
Herself a former player for Israel, the coach insisted she was “not political,” adding: “I just care about peace, love and netball. Sport is meant to unite people. It should bring people together without discrimination of religion, belief, race, colour.”
“All the threats came from outside the international netball community,” she added. Other teams have apparently shown support and offered to contribute to the increased security costs of the event.
“We have had nothing but support from the netball community. It was sad that something external got in the way. Europe Netball really tried. I feel if they cancelled, it was for good reason,” continued Berman. “The other teams have been very supportive and concerned, we were never worried about anything on the court”
Following threats by the Newport branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) to disrupt the event, Berman said she believed teams would be safer playing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) than in Wales.
Among those demanding the team’s exclusion was former Plaid Cymru Senedd member Bethan Sayed, now an outspoken anti-Israel activist. In a social media video, she criticised Europe Netball for not banning the Israeli team, saying: “Give the red cards to Netball Europe – they’re clearly offside.”
Newport PSC claimed to have delivered an “ultimatum” to Europe Netball, Wales Netball, and Cardiff House of Sport, threatening “sustained, peaceful resistance” if their demands were not met. The group pledged a “constant presence” outside the venue and promised to “disrupt the tournament’s opening.”
“Palestinian civil society has called for global solidarity to peacefully disrupt events normalising Israel’s genocide,” it said. “We refuse to let Wales – or any nation – roll out a red carpet for apartheid and genocide.”
“I would urge Europe Netball not to do events in areas like these where they cannot protect people,” said Berman. Indeed, she served as an umpire in a Dubai game in November and reported “no incident”.
She also cited a recent tournament in Gibraltar that passed without issue and criticised Welsh authorities for “not being in control.”
The cancellation has dealt a financial blow all the teams, which had paid for non-refundable travel and accommodation.
The Israeli side has competed in Europe Netball tournaments for over a decade. They did not play last year due to the outbreak of war on October 7. Berman now fears the team will have to fight to retain their ranking.
“We had been training for this for two years because of the war,” she said. “We cancelled our participation last year because war had only just broken out – no one was in the right head space. We were thinking about survival, not sports.”
Since then, netball has been a “lifeline” for the players, who include both Jewish and non-Jewish Israelis. The cancellation, Berman said, is a “heavy blow.”
But she resolved: “We will make lemonade out of lemons. We will rise.”
Europe Netball has not confirmed whether the tournament will be rescheduled or relocated. Berman said she was not hopeful, as the event had been due to begin within days.
