Metalurg suspend Stanic

Serbian goalkeeper Darko Stanic has been suspended indefinitely by his club HC Metalurg.

One of the VELUX EHF Champions League’s top goalkeepers and fan favourite was given a suspension after a club disciplinary commission.

“Stanic made a disciplinary offense during the match against Dinamo Minsk on Sunday. The automatic suspension will be until the completion of the disciplinary process,” the commission was quoted as saying.

Disciplinary proceedings were opened at the request of the chairman of the board of the club Risto Chokrev and assistant coach Aleksander Petrovski.

Stanic refused to enter the game in the first half of the match between Dinamo Minsk and Metalurg and argued with coach Lino Chervar and some of the coaching and technical staff on the bench.

He started the game in bad shape and was substituted by Rade Mijatovic. He entered the game in the second half , but again did not last long.

“My reaction on the court maybe was not exactly exemplary. I am aware of that, but have to show that some things, especially inside the club – are not in order.

“I'm not able to cover up all problems for every match. What happened today is a culmination of a lot of things that have been crawling for a long time,” Stanic told Macedonian media after the game.

Metalurg won 33:29 and took a step towards the Last 16, but this was a game to forget for Stanic.

It is uncertain whether the club will impose a penalty on the goalkeeper and whether he will be in the squad for the home match against Tatran on Friday in the SEHA League.

Metalurg’s next VELUX EHF Champions League game is against local rivals Vardar in mid-November, in the first of a crucial doubleheader in the race for the Last 16.