Fivers do without protest: Fairness preserved in the HLA semi-final!

Fivers do without protest: Fairness preserved in the HLA semi-final!

Wien, Österreich - On May 21, 2025, the HLA master league between HC Fivers Wat Margareten and Alpla HC Hard took place, which ended dramatically. Hard won the game with 52:51 after two extensions, but the result was overshadowed by a decisive violation of the rules. According to the implementation regulations, seven -meter throwing should not have been repeated with five shooters per team. Instead, an ongoing mode should have been used, in which a maximum of five or newly determined shooters could be used. However, this was carried out incorrectly by the responsible playoffs, which led to a second complete round, which Hard won 4: 3, as Vol.at.

The HC Fivers Wat Margareten, who initially announced an official protest against the evaluation of the game, ultimately decided to do without it. In an explanation, it was said that they did not want to win at the green table, but through sporting performance on the field. The club wanted to set a sign of fairness, especially for the youth and future generations of handball players. This was also emphasized by ÖHB President Markus Plazer, who apologized for the human mistake of the game officials and emphasized the sportiness of the Fivers, who have decided fairly in this difficult situation.

The violation of the standard and its consequences

After the first round in seven meter throwing, it had been 48:48. The error in the implementation of the seven -meter throw was recognized immediately, but the protest of the HC Fivers should have been submitted to the ÖHB by May 21. This was also underlined by the National Handball Association. From this it follows that the game cannot be repeated under the given circumstances, which maintains the result of 52:51 for Hard. The association also announced that measures to avoid similar incidents. This means that in the sense of fairness and integrity of the competition, such violations of the rules should be avoided in the future, such as [Oehb.at] (https://www.oehb.at/de/infos-service/newshow-official-stiel-zum-regelverstoss-im-wern-mei-Meisterliga semi-finals-fivers-vs.-hard).

The decision of the HC Fiver can also be seen in the context of fairness in handball, which is considered the cornerstone of sport. According to clublist.de, equal opportunities and sportiness are central to strengthen the image of clubs and sponsors. Fivers have shown with their decision that they are aware of their responsibility towards their players and the future of handball. This view is particularly important in view of the challenges that clubs face, such as the pressure on trainers and players.

The HLA Master League and the associated institutions are faced with the challenge of avoiding such incidents in the future and at the same time ensuring a fair competitive environment. It remains to be seen how the measures taken and what effects you will have on the upcoming final series.