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An Egyptian judo player declined to shake hands with his Israeli opponent after their match on Friday, eliciting jeers from the audience.

Or Sasson of Israel defeated Islam El Shehaby of Egypt in a first-round match in the heaviest weight class.

After a moment of prayer, El Shehaby got up and seemed reluctant to perform the traditional bow to his opponent. Eventually, he gave a quick nod and left the mat. A judge and referee urged him to return.

Sasson then approached El Shehaby with his hand extended, but El Shehany backed away. After a moment, Sasson gave up.

Throughout the competition, as at all judo matches, competitors have bowed to each other, often multiple times. To decline a handshake is extraordinarily unusual and a serious breech of judo etiquette.

A judo federation spokesman said in an email to The Associated Press that a bow was mandatory, but that shaking hands was not. He said El Shehaby’s “attitude will be reviewed after the games to see if any further action should be taken.”

Before the match, El Shehaby had faced pressure on social media not to show up, the news site nrg reported.

“You dishonor Islam if you lose to Israel,” he was told. “How can you cooperate with a killer?”

There is a history of animosity between Israeli and other Middle Eastern athletes at the Olympics, including in judo.

Peace and Love people

 

[capslock]

Dishonorable but probably smart given where he lives.

 

[timetokill]

Absolutely shameful

 

[see5harp]

Saw this on reddit. If the guy is going out of his way to shake your hand, then suck up your pride and be a good sportsman. He could have used the opportunity to be a role model to the idiots on twitter and his country.

 

[Tagyhag]

I understand the animosity involved, but there should be no place for that in the Olympics.

 

[Kevtones]

Better man won.

 

[orochi91]

I saw this earlier and couldn't stop laughing.

The dude's body language and facial expression were so fucking rude.

Being a sore loser on an international stage is not a good look.

 

[SpaceWolf]

He pulled a Ronda Rousey.

Never pull a Ronda Rousey.

 

[Grizzlyjin]

Why even fucking come to the Olympics if you're against the spirit of the games. Just stay home.

 

[SecretMoblin]

Dishonorable but probably smart given where he lives.

Yeah. It's obviously gross but the dude might have legitimate security concerns back home. Especially frustrating since Egypt still has a treaty with Israel.

Israeli athletes are used to this kinda stuff, sadly. At the Olympics it's usually some no-name Iranian boxer who pulls out of a match.

 

[Corto]

Even if he wanted to shake hands he most certainly would be afraid to do so.

 

[Lan Dong Mik]

Fucking shithead. Stay home asshole.

 

[Archer]

"Judo should be free as art and science from any external influences, political, national, racial, and financial or any other organized interest. And all things connected with it should be directed to its ultimate object, the "Benefit of Humanity."

-Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo

 

[kamspy]

Oh Islam.

 

[WedgeX]

That's some bad sportsmanship.

 

[nilbog21]

Lol, what a clown. A dishonor to the sport of Judo, to the Olympics, and to Islam. Stay home next time.

 

[Hazmat]

If you don't want to participate in peaceful competition with people of all nationalities, religions, ethnicities, and creeds then stay home. Or go home a loser that got beaten by someone you hate so much because of where they live that you won't shake their hand in the first round. Whatever.

 

[woxel1]

 

[Cat Party]

If you don't want to participate in peaceful competition with people of all nationalities, religions, ethnicities, and creeds then stay home. Or go home a loser that got beaten by someone you hate so much because of where they live that you won't shake their hand in the first round. Whatever.

Pretty much.

 

[norm9]

The good ol' stick your hand out and then pull it back to smooth over your hair.

 

[Permanently A]

"You dishonor Islam if you lose to Israel,” he was told. “How can you cooperate with a killer?"

Damn

 

[I-hate-u]

Oh Islam.

Oh please, nothing to do with that. What he did is a dishonor to Islam like nilbog21 said.

 

[spindashing]

That's some Eva Marie heat.

 

[Corto]

"You dishonor Islam if you lose to Israel,” he was told. “How can you cooperate with a killer?"

Damn

Exactly. Now imagine the vitriol if he respectfully bowed and greeted his opponent at the end.

 

[Pusherman]

Kinda understandable. Would y'all be surprised if, back in the day, an African athlete refused to shake hands with a white athlete from Apartheid South Africa?

 

[JoJoShabadoo]

If you don't want to participate in peaceful competition with people of all nationalities, religions, ethnicities, and creeds then stay home. Or go home a loser that got beaten by someone you hate so much because of where they live that you won't shake their hand in the first round. Whatever.

I think it's not that simple, in this case. It's not like it's a "friendly animosity" between two rival countries.

The responses in this thread are too objective.

Those photos are great BTW.

 

[Einchy]

These guys are big as fuck, they look like they were made in Unreal Engine 3.

 

[Ducarmel]

Kinda understandable. Would y'all be surprised if, back in the day, an African athlete refused to shake hands with a white athlete from Apartheid South Africa?

He is Egyptian not Palestinian.

 

[Pusherman]

He is Egyptian not Palestinian.

Lots of (muslim) Arabs feel very very involved in the matter.

 

[LiK]

That's some bad sportsmanship.

Better man won.

agree. keep that shit out of the Olympics.

 

[Ogodei]

At least he agreed to fight him. I recall a story about an Iranian judoka getting put in a match against an Israeli and forfeiting because he refused to acknowledge his opponent.

 

[Next]

Oh please, nothing to do with that. What he did is a dishonor to Islam like nilbog21 said.

He dishonors himself.

 

[Ducarmel]

Lots of (muslim) Arabs feel very very involved in the matter.

Fair enough.

 

[Republic of Ezo]

Kinda understandable. Would y'all be surprised if, back in the day, an African athlete refused to shake hands with a white athlete from Apartheid South Africa?

There are lots of issues with Israeli policy, but to pretend that Israel and Apartheid South Africa are equivalent is just plain wrong.

 

[coy]

I wonder if he had won would that change matters?

Oh please, nothing to do with that. What he did is a dishonor to Islam like nilbog21 said.

Maybe he/she was referencing the dude by name?

Islam El Shehaby of Egypt

 

[Toxi]

Not the time for this shit.

 

[commedieu]

He's probably dead for losing anyway.

 

[SgtCobra]

Dishonorable but probably smart given where he lives.

Yep pretty much, as bad as it sounds; he did the right thing for himself, can't imagine the backlash he'd receive in his home country for losing AND bowing to him.

But if you know things like this can happen then why participate if you're not able/willing to "play" by the rules?

 

[kamspy]

Oh please, nothing to do with that. What he did is a dishonor to Islam like nilbog21 said.

Um. His name is Islam. First paragraph.

 

[Lucky_Se7enty]

Lots of (muslim) Arabs feel very very involved in the matter.

They (muslims/arab) talk a big game and some actually do but many Muslim countries especially the Arab ones care little about the plight of Palestinians. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE and Qatar could help them but are not bothered.

 

[Perfect Blue]

Dishonorable but probably smart given where he lives.

Yeah I thought so too. Hopefully he shook his hand in a more private area.

 

[Kisaya]

Kinda understandable. Would y'all be surprised if, back in the day, an African athlete refused to shake hands with a white athlete from Apartheid South Africa?

He is Egyptian not Palestinian.

Although a lot of Arabs are nationalistic, there's a unified opposition against how Israel mistreats Arabs/Palestinians. The Israeli government sees all Arabs the same way as well despite treaties. Someone from Egypt with Arab ethnicity would definitely be interrogated at the gate for hours if they decided to visit Israel.

Unfortunately, Arabs do nothing for Palestinians except for showing disdain, and that does jack shit in helping the situation. It's really stubborn shit from both sides so it's really hard to disapprove or defend this kind of behavior.

 

[MiniBossBattle]

Kinda sad that when there was an opportunity of sportsmanship and the point of Olympic competition.

 

[Pusherman]

There are lots of issues with Israeli policy, but to pretend that Israel and Apartheid South Africa are equivalent is just plain wrong.

The treatment of Israeli-Palestinians isn't as bad or far-reaching as the treatment of blacks in Apartheid South Africa was but Israel's violent oppression of the West Bank and Gaza especially is pretty terrible. Plus, Israel itself is definitely a vestige of European colonialism, just like South Africa was. My comparison was mostly based on both states being settler colonies.

 

[Kathian]

Or Sasson of Israel defeated Islam El Shehaby of Egypt in

He got the cunt. Even so disrespectful and honestly full of it - Olympians drop differences when competing, we've seen that often over the years.

The treatment of Israeli-Palestinians isn't as bad or far-reaching as the treatment of blacks in Apartheid South Africa was but Israel's violent oppression of the West Bank and Gaza especially is pretty terrible. Plus, Israel itself is definitely a vestige of European colonialism, just like South Africa was. My comparison was mostly based on both states being settler colonies.

This argument is based on a one state solution when both parties opt for a two state solution. Also your comment on European colonialism misses the mark considering many Israeli's are basically one of the biggest and politically unified groups of refugees in the world.

 

[VenomousCoffee]

Oh Islam.

Because we can boil 1.3 billion people down to one man's behavior on one day.

Oh bigots.

 

[rokkerkory]

shameful

 

[Kisaya]

Lots of (muslim) Arabs feel very very involved in the matter.

Christian Arabs and even some Jews of Arab descent feel the same way as well. It's not just a Muslim thing.

The treatment of Israeli-Palestinians isn't as bad or far-reaching as the treatment of blacks in Apartheid South Africa was but Israel's violent oppression of the West Bank and Gaza especially is pretty terrible. Plus, Israel itself is definitely a vestige of European colonialism, just like South Africa was. My comparison was mostly based on both states being settler colonies.

People never get educated on the grievances against Jews of Arab descent in Israel and don't see it as a race thing. It definitely is and Israel/Zionism is a white-washing of the region.

 

[kamspy]

Because we can boil 1.3 billion people down to one man's behavior on one day.

Oh bigots.

Read the OP maybe.

 

[Nibel]

Yeah, definitely a security concern on his part - can't blame him despite this looking really bad to people who value sportsmanship