Fines for Slovenian and Ukrainian Handball Federations

On 12 January 2014 the match of the 2015 Men’s World Championship Qualification Europe between Slovenia and Ukraine took place in Slovenia. 

In the 45”33 minute of the match, a physical altercation involving multiple people from both national teams and supporters took place. A police intervention was requested and the match interrupted for several minutes.

Proceedings were subsequently opened by the EHF Court of Handball against the Slovenian and the Ukrainian Handball Federations, respectively for failure to ensure good order and security (Slovenia) and unsportsmanlike conduct of players and officials (Slovenia and Ukraine).

The EHF Court of Handball has released the following decisions:

- Based on article B.4 of the EHF List of Penalties, the Slovenian Handball Federation shall pay a fine of €10,000 for having failed to maintain security and good order during the match, according to their obligation laid down in article 1 § 6 of the EHF Rules on Safety and Security Procedure and article 28.1, 28.4 of the EHF EURO Qualification Regulations. 

Additionally, an EHF security delegate shall be nominated by the EHF for the two next home matches of the Slovenian national team. 

The related costs and expenses shall be borne by the Slovenian Handball Federation.

- Based on article B.2 of the EHF List of Penalties, the Slovenian and Ukrainian Handball Federations shall each pay a fine of €5,000 for the unsportsmanlike conduct of their players and officials during the match. 

The EHF Court of Handball found that ‘the physical altercation constitutes an inappropriate and unsportsmanlike conduct and, as underlined in the EHF claim, included the use of violence. The police had to intervene in order to stop it. Such behaviour must not be tolerated and does not belong to the sport handball, it can only give a negative image and consequently discredit the sport as a whole.’ 

According to article 2 of the EHF EURO Qualification Regulations and the EHF Code of Conduct (signed while registering), the principle of fair play must be ensured at whole time by the participants.

Appeals may be filed with the EHF Court of Appeal within seven days.