Jordan refused to play Israel at the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Switzerland yesterday in protest against the Gaza conflict, Jordanian media reported, and the international basketball federation said the game would be forfeited in favour of Israel, Reuters reports.

The official Jordan News Agency said the local basketball federation “sent an official request to the International Federation (FIBA) not to play the match in line with its principles and steadfast positions in such circumstances”.

The Jordanian federation did not reveal any further details, but Jordanian newspaper Ad-Dustour said the decision was due to the war on Gaza.

Amos Frishman, president of the Israeli Basketball Federation, expressed regret at Jordan’s decision.

“I strongly believe that sport is a bridge between people and cultures and not a political arena,” he was quoted by local media as saying.