Court of Appeal upholds the ban for Vladimir Vranjes

On 19 February 2015, a two-match ban was imposed by the EHF Court of Handball on the player Vladimir Vranjes of MOL-Pick Szeged following a direct disqualification received during the 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase (Round 9): Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) vs MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN), which took place in Switzerland on 12 February 2015.

The club filed an appeal against the first instance decision on 25 February 2015, requesting the EHF Court of Appeal to reduce the suspension to one match, arguing that the foul did not deserve a two-match ban and that the previous behaviour of the player occurred during a national team match should not be taken into consideration as an aggravating circumstance contrary to the EHF Court of Handball’s position.

The EHF Court of Appeal decided to uphold the decision of first instance, finding in substance that the foul of Vladimir Vranjes was intentional, reckless and likely to endanger the opponent’s physical integrity. Indeed, the player came from the side while his opponent was pushing off into a jump and pushed him with two arms into the chest. The opponent could not protect himself and thus violently fell on the floor.

As of the opportunity to take into consideration the previous unsportsmanlike behaviour of the player occurred during an EHF national team competition, the EHF Court of Appeal finds that article 13 of the EHF Legal Regulations does not set forth any limitation as of the competition in which the penalty occurs but only a principle solely based on the recurrence of the infringement. Consequently, the EHF Court of Handball was correct to regard such recurrence as an aggravating circumstance.

Consequently, the player is suspended from EHF club competitions for two matches. The player already served a suspension of one (1) match, he is therefore not entitled to participate in the next 2014/15 VELUX EHF Champions League match, i.e. the first leg match of the Last 16: Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) vs MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) taking place on Friday 13 March 2015.

A recourse to the EHF Court of Arbitration may be filed within twenty-one days but shall not have any suspensive effect.