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Accusations of racism against Croatian fans are made by the France team
As of: 10:36 a.m. | Reading time: 2 minutes
France player Nicolas Tournat made the allegations against the Croatian fans
What: REUTERS
The game between title candidate France and Croatia at the European Handball Championship was dramatic. The exchange of blows even had to be interrupted at times due to a scandal. After the game, serious accusations were made.
Record world champion France’s game took on an extraordinary note seven and a half minutes before the end. An ugly one. The European Handball Championship game against Croatia had to be interrupted due to a scandal. Rather exceptional in handball. During the forced break in the game, the spectators and some of the French players exchanged words.
Croatian fans sitting behind the French bench had badly misbehaved. “I think one of the Croatian fans threw a cup or something at us,” France backcourt player Nedim Remili later reported to Sport1, “we don’t need people like that. Throw her out.”
Remili’s teammate Nicolas Tournat went even further. He made a serious accusation. “There were some racist comments. That upset us. They insulted us, but that was it. That’s the case, unfortunately it happens in all halls,” said the circle runner at BEIN Sports. After the initial excitement had subsided, the duel continued.
“Usually handball fans are more of a role model”
France coach Guillaume Gille later refused to confirm the racism allegations. He said he didn’t understand the Croatian fans: “But there was a cup thrown and violent people in the stands. Such behavior has no place in our sport. Normally handball fans are more of a role model. Here these kinds of gestures cross the boundaries.”
But they didn’t irritate the French team significantly. In any case, the Olympic champion stayed on course. The star ensemble, which had already defeated the German selection in the preliminary round, narrowly prevailed in this dramatically dramatic game with 34:32 (18:18) and leads the group with 4:0 points.
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There was also a historic moment in the exchange of blows against Croatia. Superstar Nikola Karabatic improved the record for most goals at European Championships. Thanks to his five goals against Croatia, the 39-year-old Karabatic now has 289. He moved past the Icelandic handball icon Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson, who took part in eleven European Championship tournaments (288 goals).
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For Karabatic, who will end his career in the summer, it is another milestone in his illustrious career. He was European champion three times alone. From 2010 to 2012, the French selection with Karabatic was simultaneously European champion, world champion and Olympic champion for the first time in the history of handball.