Scandal at European Handball Championship: Spitting scandal stuns viewers – “block directly”

Created: 01/17/2022 11:31 am

By: Patrick Mayer

In a heated Balkan duel between North Macedonia and Montenegro, player Marko Lasica loses his nerve at the European Handball Championship.

There is also Corona trouble at the venue in Germany.

Munich / Debrecen – The corona virus trouble just doesn't stop at the European Handball Championship 2022 * in Hungary and Slovakia.

Hosts Hungary had aroused the dissatisfaction of some participants, coaches and players because the halls in the capital Budapest (capacity 20,000 spectators), in Szeged (8,100 spectators) and Debrecen (6,500 spectators) are not only allowed to be fully occupied.

But also because almost all corona rules at the EM venues are suspended.

National player Kai Häfner criticized.

Corona concerns at the European Handball Championship: national coach Alfred Gislason criticizes host Hungary

"I'm curious how this tournament will continue when you see that there are 20,000 spectators in Budapest and nobody is wearing a mask," said national coach Alfred Gislason *, whose DHB team in Bratislava 34:29 (15:16) against Austria won: “It seems to have been done very, very well here.

And from over there you can hear it's a little bit different.

For comparison: In the Slovakian capital, only 25 percent of the possible spectators are allowed in the arena.

And: There is a strict FFP2 mask requirement in the hall.

We are stunned by the conditions this EM is under.

France superstar Nikola Karabatic

But not every handball fan in Bratislava sticks to that either.

An example: In the game of Bosnia and Herzegovina against the Czech Republic (19:27), a group of mostly young men not only wore no face masks, but also no T-shirts.

The supporters, who were apparently organized, also stood close together in a block, and they also did not comply with the applicable seating arrangement.

No FFP2 masks, no distance: Not all corona rules are observed at the European Handball Championship in Bratislava either.

© IMAGO / Bildbyran

Bitter: There are already several corona cases in the player camp, and Germany's Julius Kühn also tested positive for the corona virus.

In response to a series of criticisms from players, the European Handball Federation EHF ordered FFP2 masks to be worn in the halls in Hungary.

Corona virus worries at the handball championship: Montenegro player affords corona dropouts

For example, France's superstar Nikola Karabatic had ranted: "We are stunned by the conditions under which this European Championship is taking place.

We have followed strict protocols to avoid catching the virus.

And then we arrive here at the hotel and we move among guests who are not wearing masks.

We also eat at the same places. ”On the other hand, another handball player on the record made a real Corona dropout.

Specifically: In the heated Balkan duel between North Macedonia and Montenegro (24:28), the Montenegrin Marko Lasica spat in the face of an opposing fan after the end of the game.

This is reported by ARD's "Sportschau" and published a corresponding video on their social media channels.

Corona worries at the European Handball Championship: Montenegro player spits in the face of a fan

The reactions under the Instagram post were harsh.

One fan said in a comment: "It doesn't work like that.

The player would have to leave the tournament and be suspended.” A user demanded: “Send home immediately!” And a follower wrote: “Block directly!” The European Handball Championship is on and the corona concerns around it are getting bigger.