Vardar and Buducnost sanctioned for security issues

The EHF Court of Handball has released two decisions in cases regarding security and good order issues.

In the first case, an object was thrown on the playing court during the 2013/14 VELUX EHF Champions League Group phase match: HC Vardar-Skopje vs. HC Dinamo Minsk. This caused the injury of a home player which requested a medical intervention during the match, while in the second case, two firecrackers were thrown behind one of the goal during and after the 2013/14 Women’s EHF Champions League match: Buducnost vs. RK Krim Mercator. The match had to be interrupted after the first explosion.

The EHF Court of Handball found that the clubs of HC Vardar-Skopje and Buducnost, acting as organisers of the respective matches, failed in their obligation to ensure security and good order as foreseen in articles 1§6 of the EHF Rules on Safety and Security Procedure, as well as in article 6, Chapter IV of the 2013/14 VELUX EHF Champions League Regulations and Women’s EHF Champions League Regulations.

In addition, according to the aforementioned articles 6, Chapter IV, clubs are responsible for the conduct of their fans.

Consequently, the EHF Court of Handball has decided to sanction the clubs as follows:

-    HC Vardar-Skopje shall pay a €5.000 fine based on article 6 of the catalogue of penalties of the EHF Rules on Safety and Security Procedure. The security measures implemented as well as the fact that the club is sanctioned for the first time regarding this issue was taken into consideration by the Court of Handball.

-    Buducnost shall pay a fine of €10.000 based on article 4 of the catalogue of penalties of the EHF Rules on Safety and Security Procedure, a part of the fine, i.e. €2.500 is imposed on a suspended basis. The security measures implemented were taken into consideration. However, the fact that Buducnost was sanctioned for such a violation in the past has also been considered, article 9 of the catalogue of penalties of the EHF Rules on Safety and Security Procedure foreseeing that any recurrence of an infringement shall be punishable by double the penalty specified.

The clubs may appeal the decisions to the EHF Court of Appeal within seven days.