Grace Zaadi Deuna (Rostov-Don)
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Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the EHF has decided to modify the organization of the competitions in order to be able to reach the end of the latter. For women, the European federation has taken strong and surprising decisions, determining the outcome of non-rescheduled green carpet matches. This choice, questionable, is likely to cringe, especially among French clubs in the European League. For men, the federation leaves itself until the end of February before deciding.
With the end of the group stages fast approaching in European women’s competitions, the EHF communicated at the end of the afternoon on the fate of the matches not rescheduled. The decision is heavy: the EHF awarded a green carpet result to the 9 Champions League matches and the 6 European League matches that could not be played. These 15 matches are therefore now considered to have been played and ended with a score of 10-0, the loser being the team deemed responsible for the non-rescheduling.
Women’s Champions League: everyone is qualified!
While the race for the first two qualifying places for the quarter-finals was raging in Group A (that of Metz), the EHF made it futile in its press release. Indeed, in addition to the 9 matches on the green carpet, it was decided that the 16 teams engaged in the group stage would participate in the round of 16. Metz, who, in the field, had benefited from a 10-0 victory against Kristiansand, will have to go through the eighth.
European Women’s League: French clubs injured
Of the six European League matches not rescheduled, five concerned French teams. Fleury therefore loses twice 10-0 against Kuban, just like Paris against Zvezda and Nantes loses their return match against Lada. French teams, subject to government decisions, cannot face their Russian opponents either in Russia or at home because Russia is outside the European Union. These defeats, oh so unjust and regrettable, condemn Fleury to elimination and put Paris in difficulty. Nantes will absolutely have to get a result from Kastamonu’s side on the last day to hope to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Men’s competitions: the EHF expects end of February
Regarding men, the EHF says it is “optimistic” and leaves it until the end of February before deciding. If the method of determining the results remains the same, some clubs could be heavily penalized, in particular Montpellier, which would thus lose 4 points against Moscow. Paris could also lose some points on the green carpet (against Vardar in particular), but will be guaranteed to play a round of 16 because the EHF will apply the same rule as for the women: all clubs will qualify for the round of 16.
These strong and unfair decisions are surprising. Indeed, while we see football getting better organized by organizing matches on neutral ground in the European Union, (like the Atlético Madrid match against Chelsea which will be played in Bucharest), handball cultivates its particularity with arbitrary choices opposed to sports ethics.
Tristan Paloc
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