We understand the importance in a uniform for team sports. It is good to keep everything consistent and for all players to be dressed appropriately for the sport. However, what happens when the official uniform requirements are very sexist? In one case, the players got fined for rebelling against the uniform.
The Norwegian beach handball team was slapped with a fine when they rebelled against their sport’s official uniform. The women’s uniform requires players to wear bikini bottoms. Instead, the players decided to wear shorts. Considering the men’s team is allowed to wear shorts, it doesn’t seem like this should be a problem, yet, according to the international handball rules, shorts are considered “improper clothing” when women wear them.
The team was given a fine of $1700 which breaks down to $177 per player. The Norwegian Handball Federation agreed to pay the fine, but the team has the support of president Kåre Geir who told NBC News that the players can wear whatever they feel comfortable wearing when they are playing in Norway.
The team also has the support of singer Pink who has offered to pay the team’s fine. Watch the video below for more details.
Will the uniform for women’s beach handball ever change? In a statement, European Handball Federation President Michael Wiederer explained, “We are very much aware of the attention the topic has received over the past days, and while changes cannot happen overnight, we are fully committed that something good comes out of this situation right now which is why the EHF has donated the fine for a good cause promoting equality in sports.”
Wiederer went on to explain that the decision about whether or not to change the rules is not up to the EHF. “Any formal decision on the ‘Rules of the Game’ in beach handball is one of the International Handball Federation and hence I have to reiterate that change can only happen at IHF level. We are committed though to doing all we can to influence this.”
The Norwegian women’s handball team is thankful for the support they have received about their decision to rebel against the official uniform. In an Instagram post, they wrote, “Thank you so much for all the support. We really appreciate all the love we have received.”
Do you think the IHF will change the rules to allow female handball players to wear shorts instead of bikini bottoms?