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Pink offers to pay fine issued to Norway’s beach handball players for not wearing bikini bottoms



Pop star Pink has offered to pay the 1,500 euro ($2,407) fine handed to Norway’s beach handball team after the women wore bike shorts instead of bikini bottoms at a European championship match. 

The European Handball Federation (EHF) said in a statement the shorts worn by the players during the match against Spain in Bulgaria were “not according to the Athlete Uniform Regulations”.

On Twitter, singer Pink said she was willing to pay for the team’s penalty, which was 150 euros per player. 

“I’m very proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team for protesting the very sexist rules about their ‘uniform’,” she wrote. 

“The European Handball Federation should be fined for sexism. Good on ya, ladies. I’ll be happy to pay for your fines. Keep it up.” 

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The EHF’s decision to penalise the team met with criticism from Norwegian Sports Minister Abid Raja, who described it on Twitter as “completely ridiculous”, saying the sporting body did not understand equality.

He thanked Pink for her offer and said a letter was sent to all Nordic sports ministers for a joint statement “to support our women”. 

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The team responded to support for their uniform choice on Instagram, saying it would continue to fight for equality in sport.

Team member Thea Granlund said in a post: “We have shown the whole world that it is possible to play beach handball with shorts!” 

Another player, Martine Welfler, said: “This is an important battle, and I’m very proud to be part of this.”

European Handball Federation defends fine

After the criticism, the EHF said the negative reactions to the penalty were based on “disinformation on the procedure”. 

It said the issue of female uniforms would be discussed in a meeting in August, but the Norwegian team went ahead with their decision to wear shorts.

“The matter was already discussed at the EHF Congress in April 2021 upon a motion of the Norwegian Handball Federation,” an online statement read.

“The 50 EHF Member Federations including the Norwegian Handball Federation, and in the presence of the President of the International Handball Federation (IHF), decided that the newly elected Beach Handball Commission at their first meeting in August will deal with the topic and will table suggestions which subsequently can be presented to the International Handball Federation.”

“Such a motion has to be addressed to the IHF Council due to formal reasons.”

“The Norwegian Handball Federation did not table any motion to the IHF since April 2021, therefore, the foreseen steps apply.” 



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