In a statement posted on Ranelagh’s Instagram account earlier this month, the Dublin-based team wrote: “We condemn the actions of Israel in Gaza and towards the Palestinian people.
“We are deeply concerned by the inclusion of New Age, a club team that will compete under the Israeli flag at WUCC and will effectively represent Israel and its actions.
“We believe it is wrong for a state plausibly committing a genocide in Gaza, according to the 2024 ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to have representation at this tournament. To do so goes against the spirit of our sport and our moral conscience as a team.”
The claim that the ICJ ruled Israel was “plausibly committing a genocide” has been debunked by Joan Donoghue, who served as president of the court from February 2021 to February 2024.
Ranelagh added that they would consider playing New Age if the Israeli side did not display a national flag.
Another Irish team, XVI Ultimate, reportedly boycotted their match against New Age. Ireland’s BDS movement wrote on X: “XVI Ultimate should not have been forced to forfeit its game.
“XVI Ultimate is one of 26 teams at the world championships that are calling for genocidal Israel to be held accountable by the World Flying Disc Federation [WFDF].
“WFDF should have excluded the Israeli federation and its member teams over their complicity in war crimes, the crime against humanity of apartheid, and genocide.
“Pressure will continue until it does.”
WFDF, which governs the championship, had faced demands to ban the Israeli team from competing.
A picture of a Frisbee with the word "genocide", by Ireland's Palestine Solidarity Campaign (Image: Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign)[Missing Credit]
One group putting pressure on the federation was the Irish branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which wrote on Instagram: “New Age... a team from the genocidal apartheid state of Israel, is due to participate in the World Ultimate Club Championships...
“New Age is a member of the Israeli Flying Disc Association [IFDA], which has publicly supported Israel’s war on Gaza, organised tournaments for Israeli soldiers...
“The Palestinian sporting boycott calls for Israeli institutions to be excluded from international sport because of their complicity in Israel’s genocide, apartheid and denial of Palestinian rights.”
After calls, the WFDF wrote on its website: “With respect to recent calls for WFDF to sanction the Israeli club team participating at the 2026 WUCC, our first responsibility is the safety and wellbeing of all athletes, officials, volunteers, spectators, and other participants. Any decisions taken by WFDF must preserve a safe environment in which the competition can proceed fairly and peacefully.
“WFDF must also balance two important principles. The first is non-discrimination and the right of athletes to participate in sport. The second is respect for the right of athletes and other members of our community to express their views and advocate for social justice.”
Records show New Age only played one match during the competition.
Chief Rabbi Wieder told the JC: “I don't see this as an isolated incident. It’s part of a wider pattern in which Israelis are increasingly being delegitimised or excluded simply because they are Israeli.
“One of the great things about sport and international competitions like this is that they give people a chance to encounter each other as people. They can meet, compete, talk, connect over their shared passion, and actually get to know and understand one another, instead of just seeing someone as a symbol of a country or a conflict.
“Here in Ireland there is currently such a lack of understanding, so much caricature, so many black-and-white headlines, that we really need more of these genuine human encounters, not fewer.”
New Age did receive better hospitality, however, from the Jewish community.
The chief rabbi wrote last Friday: “I’m delighted that some members of the Israeli team will be joining our community in Dublin for Shabbos, and we’re very much looking forward to giving them a warm welcome.”
