"Fierce Foul": Player Banned for 26 Months After Horror Play
Player Suspended Extensively for Severely Inappropriate Play in Handball
Step into the thrilling world of Austrian handball, where physicality and skill go hand-in-hand. In a recent quarter-finals playoff, a shocking incident occurred that left both teams reeling.
The man at the center of the storm is Ivan Horvat, a backcourt player for Alpla HC Hard. After a heated confrontation with Markus Mahr from Bregenz Handball, Horvat found himself on the wrong side of the law, earning him a heavily-penalized suspension.
With the score tied at 20-20, Mahr charged towards the opposing defense, executed a nimble body feint – only to be met with a forceful hand from Horvat, sending him crashing to the ground in agony. Medical attention was swiftly summoned, and Mahr, who is bound for German Bundesliga relegation VfL Potsdam post-season, was eventually carried off, leaving a crimson trail in his wake. The horrified spectators watched as Mahr collapsed again on the sidelines.
The terrible violation left Mahr with a shattered nasal structure, prompting an immediate operation following the match. The perpetrator, Horvat, received a red card and a blue card, indicating a lengthy suspension. Evidence from the scene led the handball court to classify Horvat’s foul as gross unsportsmanlike conduct, punishable by an extended suspension of 8 games to 4 years in the event of severe injury under Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) regulations.
The severity of the punishment reflects the gravity of the situation, as a "severe injury" is defined as one that is considered as such under Austrian criminal law. The current suspension extends until July 30, 2027.
"A Pattern of Danger": Bregenz Handball’s Outrage
In response to the attack on their own player, Bregenz Handball did not mince words. "This was not the first dangerous action by this player against us," the club declared in a statement. An earlier duel had seen Horvat knock out a Bregenz player with a similar blow, sending them to the hospital. The club strongly denounced the attacks and demanded the perpetrator be held accountable, stating, "Something like this must never happen again!"
Coach Marko Tanaskovic added his voice to the chorus of outrage, calling the incident an "unfair action" during an ORF interview. As for Mahr, he is reportedly recovering well, considering the circumstances, following his surgery.
This recent victory by Alpla HC Hard, achieved through a narrow 30-29 score in the final seconds, was met with controversy. In a noteworthy post, the celebrating team featured a jubilant player who had severely injured their key opposition player mere minutes prior. Additionally, the official statement released by Alpla HC Hard failed to address the gravity of the situation, prompting disgust from Bregenz Handball.
- Despite the controversy surrounding Ivan Horvat's actions during a handball match, Alpla HC Hard was able to secure a narrow victory over Bregenz Handball.
- Bregenz Handball expressed their outrage over Horvat's actions, stating that it was not the first dangerous incident involving him against their team.
- In the aftermath of the incident, Markus Mahr, the player injured by Horvat, underwent surgery and is reportedly recovering well.
- The Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) regulations, which classify Horvat’s foul as gross unsportsmanlike conduct, led to a heavily-penalized suspension of 26 months for Horvat.
