Burundian club Dynamo have withdrawn from the Basketball Africa League (BAL) after refusing to wear a jersey with the ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo on it.
The side covered the message in their opening game in the Kalahari Conference in Pretoria, but forfeited their next two matches.
The protest comes amid political tensions between the two countries.
Burundi closed its borders with Rwanda in January after accusing its neighbour of funding rebel attacks.
Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye claimed Rwanda’s government, led by Paul Kagame, was backing the Red Tabara rebel group after an attack by the militia killed 20 people in December.
President Kagame denies the charge.
BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall said the club had refused to comply with the league’s rules governing jersey and uniform requirements.
Dynamo taped over the ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo when they beat Cape Town Tigers 86-73 on Saturday, and then forfeited matches against FUS Rabat on Sunday and Petro de Luanda on Tuesday.
Dynamo guard Bryton Hobbs claimed on social media that the instruction to cover the logo had come from Burundi’s government.
