The unpleasant scenes after the North Macedonians’ World Cup defeat against the Netherlands have repercussions for the association. The world handball association also punished the Croatian World Cup organizing committee.
The World Handball Association has responded to the riots by North Macedonian fans at the World Cup game against the Netherlands in Varaždin, Croatia, with fines and warnings. Both the North Macedonian association and the Croatian World Cup organizing committee were sentenced to an undisclosed fine, the IHF said.
In addition, the World Cup organizer was threatened with banning spectators from future games in Varaždin and the North Macedonians were threatened with banning their fans from all World Cup games in the event of further incidents. The local organizer was ordered to increase the presence of security personnel and police at the games and to carry out stricter controls at entry. In addition, the spectator area behind the team benches in the arena must now be closed.
Fans threw objects onto the field
During the duel against the Netherlands on Friday, North Macedonian supporters threw objects onto the pitch and spilled liquids onto the parquet. The Dutch left the plate during the ceremony for the player of the game.
The incidents put the safety of players and officials at risk, the IHF Executive Committee stated at a meeting.
The security staff did not stop this, although the Croatian World Cup organizers had already been asked by the IHF to increase security measures after the game between Hungary and North Macedonia. Because this was not implemented to an appropriate extent, the situation got out of control.