New Delhi: South Africa’s dismissal of David Teeger as captain of its under-19 cricket team citing security concerns, two months after he made pro-Israel comments on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, has prompted several public figures to accuse the country of anti-Semitism.
The sacking of Teeger, who is Jewish, as captain comes just a week before the under-19 World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa.
Among those who have criticised the move are Israel’s ambassador to India Naor Gilon, English journalist Piers Morgan, and American actor Michael Rapaport.
Cricket South Africa (CSA), the country’s cricket governing body, announced its decision Friday, stating that there could be the risk of “conflict or even violence, including between rival groups of protesters”.
While Teeger continues to remain on the squad, journalist Piers Morgan accused the governing body of “shameful moral cowardice” in a post on X.
WTF!? Have they sacked him because he’s Jewish? This is shameful moral cowardice by Cricket South Africa. https://t.co/etEdiXVBmY
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 12, 2024
Israeli envoy to India Naor Gilon called the decision “shameful even when dressed as ‘concerns for his (Teeger’s) safety’”.
South Africa removes its Under-19 #Cricket captain from his captaincy, following his support for #Israel over the #GazaWar.
Shameful even when dressed as “concerns for his safety”.https://t.co/ZwoB1W44Ab
— Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) January 12, 2024
Meanwhile, Rapaport wrote on X that it was proof that “sport should remain above and without the interference of politics”.
When Politics Catches Cricket LBW: South Africa Strips U-19 Captain Ahead of World Cup for Pro-Israel Comments
Opinion has gone to the third umpire in cricket after South Africa opted to remove captaincy duties from David Teeger.
The decision was taken by RSA's cricket board as… pic.twitter.com/nrvUn2WxnI
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) January 13, 2024
British politician Zac Goldsmith too commented on Teeger’s dismissal in a post on X.
The Hamas-supporting Palestinian Solidarity Alliance complained about David Teeger – the S African U19 cricket captain – over his support for Israel. They have the right to do so.
But the response of Cricket South Africa is shocking. Having first subjected him to an inquisition… pic.twitter.com/mpkM1H6a0U— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) January 12, 2024
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), an umbrella spokesbody that represents the country’s Jewish community, called the move “shameful”.
“There is no basis for this decision, other than the fact that Teeger is Jewish,” SAJBD national chairperson Karen Milner said in a statement, adding that it was “an outrageous act of anti-Semitism”.
On 22 October last year — weeks after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October and in the midst of Israel’s subsequent attack on Gaza — Teeger had dedicated his award to Israel when named ‘Rising Star’ at the ABSA Jewish Achiever Awards ceremony. In his acceptance speech, he said, “I’ve been awarded this award, and yes, I am now the rising star, but the true rising stars are the young soldiers in Israel.”
“I’d like to dedicate it to the state of Israel and to every single soldier fighting so that we can live and thrive in the diaspora,” he further said.
Following his comments, the Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PSA) lodged a complaint with the CSA stating that Teeger’s views were a “provocative and inflammatory political statement”. Teeger was briefly suspended while the CSA investigated hate speech allegations and he was cleared to return to the team.
During this probe, Teeger apologised for his “naive” remarks and said that the speech was delivered impromptu.
He said in a statement, “Having considered the matter further, I appreciate I may have been naive in thinking that this personal reflection would be received as such. I regret not giving more consideration to whether my impromptu comments would be scrutinised given my growing prominence in sport or that these comments may be repeated in the media.”
He further said: “My statements were not in support of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity because in my view Israel is innocent of all these allegations. On the other hand, I accept that many people and governments, including the South African government, hold an opposing view.”
However, some believe that Teeger’s Jewish heritage is not the reason behind his dismissal. British journalist Daniel Gallan wrote on X, “David Teeger’s Jewishness has nothing to do with him being stripped of the captaincy. Anyone who suggests that is heaping fuel on an already volatile flame. Please think before you leap to dangerous conclusions.”
David Teeger's Jewishness has nothing to do with him being stripped of the captaincy. Anyone who suggests that is heaping fuel on an already volatile flame. Please think before you leap to dangerous conclusions.
— Daniel Gallan (@danielgallan) January 12, 2024
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)