"Smash": Star Handball Pro Kicked Out for Over Two Years Following Brutal Attack
Profession handball player given over two-year ban due to brutal misconduct on the field.
Catch up on the action Chat about it Forward to a friend Send via Email Print this Copy Link In a game that left both teams shocked, a brutal foul occurred during the Austrian handball championship playoff quarterfinals.
Ivan Horvat, the Alpla HC Hard's slick backcourt player, received a hefty two-and-a-half-year ban for striking his opponent, Markus Mahr from Bregenz Handball, with a vicious blow to the face. The Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) tribunal handed down the suspension, which starts from the current date and ends on July 30, 2027.
With the score tied at 20-20, Mahr charged toward the opposition defense, executed a swift body feint, and was met with Horvat's brutal slap. Writhing in agony on the court, Mahr, set to join German Bundesliga relegated VfL Potsdam next season, was carried off by teammates. Spectators watched in horror as Mahr collapsed again on the sidelines.
Medical examination confirmed that the 24-year-old suffered a broken nose in the attack, necessitating immediate surgery. Horvat was given a red card and a blue card, which typically results in a lengthier suspension. "Based on the presented evidence, the tribunal has classified Ivan Horvat's foul as grotesque, unsportsman-like behavior under ÖHB regulation 7.3.1, leading to a severe injury," explained the tribunal.
Gross unsportsmanlike conduct occurs when an opposing player or team official suffers a severe injury, with the penalty ranging from an 8-game suspension to a four-year ban under ÖHB regulations. A "severe" injury refers to one considered as such under Austrian criminal law.
"Not a new trick up his sleeve"
In response to the attack on their own player, Bregenz Handball wasn't holding back any punches: "We want to make it clear: this was not the first time this player put us in danger," the club stated. "In our earlier match, Markus barely escaped another assault of a similar nature. Our stance remains firm: such acts should never happen again!" Bregenz's head coach, Marko Tanaskovic, wasn't mincing words when he spoke with ORF: "I have never witnessed such a blatant, unjust move!"
According to the club, Markus Mahr was progressing well after the surgery, given the circumstances. They added, "This situation is far from optimistic for any of us."
Unapologetic and apologetic in one breath, Horvat stated through the Alpla HC Hard, "I deeply regret that such an injury occurred. It was in no way my intention to hurt Markus - his quick body feint caught me off guard in that instant."
With a thrilling 30:29 win in the final seconds, Alpla HC Hard secured their spot in the championship semifinals. Despite the victory, their celebratory post left their opponents utterly perplexed. The jubilant player celebrated with a devilishly vicious elephant-slaying meme, accompanied by an official club statement that downplayed the gravity of the situation. Bregenz Handball found the mockery sheer madness.
- Markus Mahr, the Bregenz Handball player who was brutally attacked during a handball game, is making progress after surgery for his broken nose.
- Alpla HC Hard's player, Ivan Horvat, regretted the injury to Markus Mahr, stating it was unintentional, but didn't apologize for the unsportsmanlike behavior that led to the attack.
- Bregenz Handball claimed this wasn't the first time Horvat put them in danger, stating they've witnessed similar behavior before.
- Despite their victory, Alpla HC Hard's celebratory post, featuring a meme of elephant slaying, left Bregenz Handball utterly perplexed and outraged.
