Three parties in the Rotterdam city council, SP, Bij1 and Coalition Party DENK, asked a debate on Wednesday about the arrival of the Israeli baseball team to the city. They want the team to be banned for the situation in Gaza. They are calling baseball club Neptunus and mayor Carola Schouten to block the participation of Israel in the European Honkbal Championship in Rotterdam.
“As an overarching body for baseball and softball in Europe, WBSC Europe strictly applies its rules and regulations within the framework of sport. Participation in European competitions is based solely on sporting suitability and qualification, and not on political considerations,” said the WBSC. “WBSC Europe does not interfere with political issues or judgments about the actions of governments or states. It is our responsibility to ensure that athletes and teams, as soon as they are eligible, have the right to compete in a safe, honest and neutral sports environment.”
Exclude Russia
“We also emphasize that precedents such as the exclusion of South Africa during apartheid years, or more recently the suspension of Russia and Belarus, were taken exclusively by higher authorities such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and international federations,” the WBSC continues. “Such measures cannot be taken unilaterally by local organizers, clubs or municipalities.”