UK fans protest during NBA game over Greenland tensions
UK basketball fans expressed their views during the London NBA game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic by chanting “leave Greenland alone” and booing the US national anthem, reports BritPanorama.
As the contest was about to commence, explicit language echoed around the O2 Arena, with phrases such as “f**k ice” resonating among the attendees.
This game marks the NBA’s return to London for a regular-season match for the first time since 2019, concluding a two-game European tour for both teams. The event is part of a broader three-year international initiative aimed at bringing NBA action to cities like Manchester and Paris next year, followed by Berlin and Paris in 2028.
This matchup represents the 19th game featuring an NBA team in the UK since 1993. Key players for the Grizzlies, currently 11th in the Western Conference, include Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., while the 5th-place Eastern Conference Magic feature Paolo Banchero and the Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz.
The protests at the event are set against a backdrop of rising tensions between the UK and the US surrounding former President Donald Trump’s plans to acquire Greenland. Trump recently pledged to implement a 10 per cent tariff on European nations that oppose the initiative in a post on his Truth Social platform.
In the post, Trump stated, “Starting on February 1, 2026, all of the above mentioned countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland) will be charged a 10 per cent tariff on any and all goods sent to the United States of America.”
This declaration has sparked a joint statement from European nations, including Denmark and the UK, affirming their support for Greenland’s sovereignty: “We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland.”
Amidst these developments, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch condemned Trump’s tariff threats as “completely wrong,” warning that such measures would only lead to higher costs for consumers in both the UK and the US. She echoed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s sentiment, asserting that the future of Greenland should solely reside in the hands of its residents.
The evening reminded all in attendance that the intersection of sport and geopolitics is often fraught with complexity, where the aspirations of nations can reverberate in the most unexpected spaces, like a London basketball arena.
