Norway ball team fined amid bikini pants battle

OLIVIA Breen’s concerns follow a separate backlash against a decision to punish Norway’s beach handball team because players wore shorts instead of bikini bottoms.

The European Handball Federation (EHF) imposed a €1,500 (£1,297) fine on Norway, because of what it claimed was “improper clothing” worn in a match in the recent European Beach Handball Championships.

There has been much debate over the beach handball kit, with claims it is another example of sexism in sport and that the bikini bottoms consist of an unnecessary, sexualised and uncomfortable piece of uniform.

Many have pointed out the double standards between the requirement for women to wear bikini bottoms while men’s beach volleyball sees players wearing shorts.

A statement for the EHF said a disciplinary commission had imposed a fine of “€150 per player, for a total of €1,500”.

The statement went on to say that Norway’s team had played with shorts that are “not according to the athlete uniform regulations defined in the IHF [International Handball Federation] beach handball rules of the game”.

The head of Norway’s Handball Federation, Kare Geir Lio, said any penalty would be paid, but added: “The most important thing is to have equipment that athletes are comfortable with.”

Before the tournament the national team contacted the EHF to see if they could play in shorts, but were informed such a rule breach would be punished with a fine.

A Norwegian motion to change the rules is set to be discussed by the sporting body later this year.