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Handball national coach Alfred Gíslason
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Tilo Wiedensoler / imago images/camera4+
The application of the German handball players to move the EM main round start against defending champion Spain has been rejected.
The German Handball Association (DHB) confirmed this on its website.
The game is scheduled for the evening (6 p.m. / ARD) in Bratislava.
After twelve corona-related failures, the DHB had asked for the game to be postponed to Saturday or Monday.
The regulations stipulate that a team with a minimum number of five players is able to play.
"With regard to a possible withdrawal, the EHF pointed out in its answer on Thursday morning the complex consequences, among other things, on a sporting and economic level," wrote the DHB: "The EHF did not grant the application to postpone the game and referred to a similarly complex situation from the sporting situation in Spain to existing broadcasting plans and obligations as well as similarly challenging corona situations in the teams of other participating nations.«
The infections of three other DHB players became known on Wednesday, and national coach Alfred Gíslason subsequently nominated Lukas Stutzke, David Schmidt and Tobias Reichmann.
Whether the trio can be used against Spain depends on a negative PCR test.
The results had not yet been communicated as of Thursday afternoon.
On Wednesday evening, the DHB initially ruled out withdrawing from the tournament in a crisis meeting with the Handball Bundesliga (HBL).
“It's quite a complex decision – we made it from a medical, sporting, legal and economic point of view.
This is what responsible action looks like,” Schober affirmed.
But you want to reassess the corona situation every day.
“The situation is very dynamic.
It may well be that we have to make a different decision tomorrow.
We will reassess the situation each time," said Schober.
At the same time, the association has the conditions for withdrawing from the tournament checked by the European Handball Federation (EHF).
Due to the high number of corona-related absences, the association had also formally submitted an application for the match against Spain to be rescheduled.
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