A Europe Netball tournament, due to be held in Cardiff from 7-11 May 2025, and targeted by anti-Israel boycotters, has been cancelled.  The sports hall refused to hold the event, citing concerns about safety and wellbeing, despite Europe Netball agreeing to organize private security.

Now all participants, not just the Israelis, are equally devastated to lose the opportunity to play.

The tournament had been targeted by anti-Israel protestors including the Newport branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC). A petition had been set up calling for a boycott of the Israeli team and they also threatened silent protests outside the tournament venue.

South Wales police considered that it was unnecessary for them to secure the event but would respond if called for any incidents. In addition to the usual security already planned for the event, Israel Netball was asked by Europe Netball, which was organizing the tournament, to meet the costs of engaging a private security team at the venue.  Israel Netball was told that its team would not be permitted to participate unless it sent the sum required before the start of the tournament.  Israel Netball contacted UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) for help.

UKLFI wrote to Europe Netball and World Netball pointing out that the decision to require the Israeli team to pay for all the security costs was a breach of section 29 of the UK’s Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination because of nationality in the provision of services.

It also conflicted with World Netball’s Equality and Diversity Policy, which states that “WN aims to ensure that there will be open access to all those who wish to participate in any aspect of netball activities at meetings and International Events …”

UKLFI noted that the UK legislation does not contain any exception permitting direct discrimination where the persons discriminated against are targeted by others. This was deliberate: the prohibition of discrimination was originally adopted in a context where discrimination against persons of colour was frequently excused on the ground that their admission to events would give rise to hostility and potentially “trouble”. The effect of the legislation is that if it is not practicable to hold an event without discrimination because of nationality or other protected characteristics, the event must be cancelled.

In response to this letter, a meeting was held for all participating countries, at which Europe Netball  reported that a loan had been secured from World Netball towards the cost of private security and that the remaining cost would be shared equally between the countries participating in the tournament.

However, the Cardiff venue then announced it would no longer hold the event, citing concerns about safety and wellbeing.

Jonathan Turner, Chief Executive of UKLFI, commented: “I doubt that it was necessary for the venue to cancel the tournament, especially as arrangements had been made to provide additional security. I think the venue is probably in breach of its contractual obligations as well as the Equality Act. Europe Netball, teams and competitors may well have legal claims against the venue for wasted expenditure on travel and accommodation as well as for the distress caused.”