Handball Club Follo Appeals Fine Following Fan Incident
OSLO, Norway - Follo Handball has formally appealed a fine levied against them after a September 7th match against Bergen, the club announced Monday to TV 2. The Norwegian Handball Federation (NHF) has confirmed receipt of the appeal.
The dispute stems from an incident during the match where Bergen player Nicolai Daling jumped into the stands and inadvertently struck a Follo supporter with a megaphone. Daling stated he reacted to “repeated personal derogatory comments” from spectators throughout the first half.
Follo chairman Marius Borge argues the fine is “disproportionate,” stating ther is “no clear evidence of severe cases of trouble or disorder with personality or abusive calls.” he emphasized the distinction between typical supporter culture and “rough, persistent heat or violence.”
Bergen Handball’s general manager, Erik Bjørnsen, acknowledged Follo’s right to appeal, noting, “Follo believes that what happened in the hall is completely different from what the judges or Bergen think happened.” The chair of the sanction committee, Einar Sparboe Lysnes, declined to comment.
TV 2’s handball expert, Bent Svele, supports Follo’s appeal, calling the sanction committee’s decision “impossible to understand.” Svele believes the committee unfairly extended organizer responsibility, questioning what more Follo could have done after being alerted to the issue during halftime and subsequently deploying security.
Daling has been banned from two matches, beginning October 2nd, and will miss games against Elverum and Sandnes.
follo maintains a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and personal attacks, with Borge stating that a group of youths responsible for initial calls ceased their behavior after being addressed by adults.He added that the youths were praised for their subsequent conduct.
