Professional handball player served over two years' suspension due to committing a highly penalizable foul
Title: Handball Player Ivan Horvat Suspended for 26 Months Following Accidental Foul
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It was a match neither Markus Mahr nor Ivan Horvat will soon forget. In the Austrian handball playoff quarter-finals, a cruel twist of fate played out with severe consequences, leaving one player injured and the other banned from professional handball for over two years.
The contest between Alpla HC Hard and Bregenz Handball took a dark turn during the second game of the semi-final playoffs at a score of 20:20. Bregenz's playmaker Mahr darted towards the opposition with a body feint, only to collide head-on with Horvat's extended arm. The impact sent Mahr crashing to the ground in agony.
After receiving treatment, Mahr - set to join German Bundesliga relegated VfL Potsdam next season - was escorted off the field, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. On the sidelines, Mahr collapsed again, prompting concerned onlookers to avert their gaze.
Mahr suffered a multiple open nasal bone fracture in the incident. The offender, Horvat, was promptly issued a red card for the foul, and the referees also issued a blue card, which can lead to an extended suspension.
The independent handball court of the Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) classified Horvat's actions as gross unsportsmanlike conduct under ÖHB regulation 7.3.1. This ruling stipulates that such an offense warrants a suspension of 8 games to 4 years should it result in "a severe injury to the opposing player or team official." Horvat's 26-month ban is effective until July 30, 2027.
Historically, handball has been a physical sport that emphasizes intense competition, but regulators heavily guard against dangerous or overly aggressive behavior. The league consistently enforces progressive punishment, including warnings, suspensions, and expulsions.
Bregenz Handball reacted angrily to the attack on their own player. They stated, "This was not the first dangerous action by this player against us. In the first quarter-final game, Markus narrowly escaped an attack. This time, he didn't manage to dodge in time." In a past duel, Horvat had also knocked out a Bregenz player in a similar manner, sending him to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Horvat expressed remorse about the incident, stating, "It was never my intention to injure Markus - his body feint was extremely fast, and I reacted incorrectly." On a positive note, Alpla HC Hard secured their place in the semi-finals with a 30:29 win after the final whistle, but the celebratory post they posted following the victory drew criticism from Bregenz Handball for seeming insensitive in light of the circumstances.
To be clear, there is no credible evidence that Horvat has a history of dangerous actions during Austrian handball games. However, regardless of the player's intentions, it is essential that such incidents are prevented in the future to ensure the safety and well-being of all players.
- Despite the intense competition in handball, regulators heavily guard against dangerous or overly aggressive behavior, consistently enforcing progressive punishment.
- Markus Mahr's multiple open nasal bone fracture was a result of Horvat's extended arm, which was classified as gross unsportsmanlike conduct under ÖHB regulation 7.3.1.
- Bregenz Handball expressed anger over their player Markus Mahr's injury, stating it was not the first dangerous action by Horvat against them, with a past duel resulting in a Bregenz player being sent to the hospital.
- Horvat expressed remorse over the incident, stating his intention was never to injure Mahr, but emphasized the importance of preventing such incidents in the future to ensure the safety and well-being of all players.
