Professional handball player given over two years suspension for committing a vicious foul
Take a seat, sports fans, because this ain't your average handball match. The playoff quarterfinals for the Austrian handball championship took a nasty turn, resulting in hefty consequences for both sides.
Ivan Horvat, Alpla HC Hard's swift-footed backcourt player, is now looking at a lengthy hiatus from professional handball, at least in Austria. In a fit of rage during the semi-final playoff game, Horvat unleashed a vicious strike on Markus Mahr, Bregenz Handball's cunning playmaker. This brutal foul left Mahr reeling with a severe injury. The independent handball court of the Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) decided to pull the trigger, suspending the 32-year-old Croatian for a staggering 26 months.
With the score tied at 20:20, Mahr darted towards the opposing defense, feinted left, right, and left again - just to be clipped by Horvat's outstretched hand. Mahr hit the deck, writhing in pain. After a lengthy medical timeout, Mahr, who's bound for German Bundesliga relegated VfL Potsdam post-season, was stretchered off the court, leaving behind a bloodstained trail. The crowd watched in shock as Mahr collapsed again on the sidelines.
Mahr ended up with a multiple open nasal bone fracture as a result of the attack, a wound that required immediate surgery. Horvat was shown a red card, and due to the severity of the injury, also received a blue card - punishable by a long suspension. "Based on the available evidence," the statement said, "the handball court has classified Horvat's actions as gross unsportsmanlike conduct, causing severe injury to Mahr in accordance with ÖHB regulations." Horvat's suspension will last until July 30, 2027.
Gross unsportsmanlike conduct, according to the regulations, warrants a suspension of 8 games to 4 years if it results in a severe injury to an opposing player or team official. A severe injury, a term borrowed from Austrian criminal law, refers to an injury that would be considered as such under the law.
Not a one-time deal
Bregenz Handball fumed over the attack on their own player, stating, "This wasn't the first dangerous action by this player against us." Mahr narrowly avoided a similar attack in the previous quarterfinals, the club added. Horvat had also knocked out a Bregenz player in a past duel, sending him to the hospital, in a similar fashion. Bregenz Handball stood firm: "Something like this must never happen again!"
Coach Marko Tanaskovic lambasted the foul as an "unfair action." Meanwhile, Mahr, who's recovering well post-op, is beyond furious, according to the club. Alpla HC Hard, on the other hand, celebrated their semifinal advancement with a jubilant post that left Bregenz Handball flabbergasted. The post, featuring an ecstatic player who had Systematically hurt their key man minutes ago, a devil as an elephant killer, and a flippant statement, left many scratching their heads in shock.
Horvat, who joined Hard from SG Flensburg-Handewitt in 2018, expressed remorse for Mahr's injury. "It was never my intention to hurt Markus. His body-swerve was lightning-fast, and I reacted poorly in that situation." Let's hope Ivan learns from this mess and thinks twice before unleashing another brass knuckle blow.
Markus Mahr, the cunning playmaker for Bregenz Handball, was unfortunate to experience another dangerous action from Ivan Horvat, a player from Alpla HC Hard. This incident was not a one-time deal; Mahr narrowly avoided a similar attack in the previous quarterfinals. The gross unsportsmanlike conduct by Horvat, resulting in Mahr's severe injury, warranted a suspension of 26 months according to the Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) regulations. Meanwhile, Horvat, who joined Hard from SG Flensburg-Handewitt, expressed remorse for Mahr's injury and has an opportunity to learn from this incident.
