HC Spartak fined

The EHF Court of Handball has reached a decision in a case regarding security and good order issues open against the Bulgarian club HC Spartak.

The club hosted the second leg of the 2013/2014 EHF Men's Challenge Cup: HC Spartak (BUL) vs. Cocks (FIN). After the initial throw-off of the aforementioned match, spectators of the home team threw paper rolls of cash register receipt onto the playing court, which led to the interruption of the match in order to remove the paper rolls.

A similar situation occurred once more later in the match when more paper rolls were thrown on the playing court in the direction of a player from Cocks. Once again the match had to be temporarily interrupted. A link to a video footage was also communicated to the EHF.

The EHF Court of Handball found that the club HC Spartak, acting as organiser of the match, failed in its obligation to ensure security and good order as foreseen in article 1§6 of the EHF Rules on Safety and Security Procedure, as well as article 8.1.15 of the 2013/2014 European Cup Regulations.

Consequently, the EHF Court of Handball imposed a  €5,000 fine based on article 4 of the catalogue of penalties of the EHF Rules on Safety and Security Procedure and B.4 of the EHF List of Penalties. The fact that the club knew that objects would be thrown on the playing court by spectators and that no measures was taken to avoid it was regarded as aggravating circumstances.

An appeal may be filed within seven days.