Court of Handball suspends Abutovic for one game

The EHF Court of Handball has taken a decision following disciplinary proceedings against the player Ilija Abutovic of HC Vardar.

The player was disqualified within the last seconds of the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase match: Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs. HC Vardar (34:34) which took place on 19 October 2014.

The EHF Court of Handball finds in substance that the behaviour deserves further sanction since the foul was only directed at the body of the opponent since the Player’s position did not allow him to play the ball, as he himself recognised in his statement.

Consequently, the foul was likely to endanger the opponent’s health, and in the present case the danger was serious since the opponent was in the air, unable to protect himself and fell down on the floor because of the foul. Furthermore, the foul was intentionally committed to prevent the opponent to take a last shot on goal in order to safeguard the score.

The player Ilija Abutovic is therefore not entitled to participate in the next Group Phase match in which the club HC Vardar will take part, respectively the match HC Vardar vs. MKB-MVM Veszprém taking place on 15 November 2014.

An appeal against the present decision shall not have any suspensive effects.