“Completely ridiculous” fine issued to Norwegian beach handball team

Norway’s beach handball team has been fined 1500 euros (approximately $2500 NZD) over a violation of the sport’s uniform rules during the European Championships match.

In the bronze medal match against Spain, the Norwegian women’s team wore bike shorts instead of bikini bottoms.

The European Handball Federation (EHF) said in a statement that the shorts were “not according to the Athlete Uniform Regulations defined in the IHF Beach Handball Rules of the game”.

The team was fined 150 euro per player.

Abid Raja, Norway’s sports minister, said it was “completely ridiculous” and that attitudes needed to change.

The Norwegian Handball Federation (NHF) criticised the fine and took to Twitter to say it was proud of the women for saying enough was enough.

Norway's women's beach handball team was fined €1,500 for refusing to wear bikini bottoms at a European championship game.

Men wear shorts but IHF rules say women "must" use bikini bottoms, despite players saying that bikini bottoms are restrictive and uncomfortable to play in. pic.twitter.com/VwP2cxAE1H — AJ+ (@ajplus) July 20, 2021

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“We at NHF stand behind you and support you. Together we will continue to fight to change the rules for clothing so players can play in the clothes they are comfortable with,” it said in the post.

According to Beach Handball rules, female players must wear tops and bikini bottoms while men must wear tank tops and shorts.

“Athletes’ uniforms and accessories contribute to helping athletes increase their performance as well as remain coherent with the sportive and attractive image of the sport,” the uniform regulations said.

“Female athletes must wear bikini bottoms … with a close fit and cut out on an upward angle towards the top of the leg.”

I knew there was a double standard for uniforms worn by male and female athletes... but this picture of Norway's beach handball team says a lot. https://t.co/qdZBKU7pTK pic.twitter.com/KoWdOvecmr — Dr. Ji Son (@cogscimom) July 20, 2021

The decision has been widely criticised on social media, with some calling the differing rules for the mens’ and womens’ uniforms a “double standard”.

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Image: Norwegian Handball Federation / Twitter