More Courage with the red card is needed !
(http://www.ihf.info)
by Christer Ahl (IHF/PRC President)

What has been the disappointment in the refereeing so far ? Well, perhaps the referees listened to the instructions that they should be more ready to disqualify players who commit dangerous fouls, but in the matches they have not shown adequate instincts (or courage ?) to follow the instructions.

In many situations already, the referees have prefered to give a 2-minute suspension when a “red card” seemed clearly justified. Yes, there are of course some “50-50” situations where “2 minutes” could be just as correct as “red card”, but this cannot always be the excuse!

One common type of situation has been that the defender used his hands or his forearm to slash or hit the opponent in the face or the neck. Often this is disguised as an attempt to reach for the ball, and it can sometimes be difficult to see, but very often it is quite clear. Using an elbow forcefully against the body of the opponent has also been the method in some cases.

Another dangerous situation requiring more severe punishment is when a defender fouls a player who is jumping in over the goal area or jumping up to take a shot. The jumping player is defenseless and even a small push on the body or the legs can result in a bad fall and an injury.

Clearly, in the daily meetings it will be necessary to remind the referees, also with the help of video scenes, and make sure that they adopt a more strict line. Our concern is both abouth the health of the players and the image of our sport.  ISL-SLO, 25.01., Group B (33:34)

Throw off in the last three seconds of this match. SLO is leading by one goal. One defence player from SLO hits his opponent into the face. His aim is clear: to interrupt the game and to win time until the end of the game. Right decision from the referees in this situation: Red Card!