The coach of the France handball team was not sorry after the injury of winger Laura Flippes in the French draw against Russia (28-28) at Euro 2020.
You were annoyed at the end of the meeting. What happened ?
Olivier Krumbholz: We encountered two problems. The first, which we have already talked about, is the programming of matches. There was a serious injury, there is no respect for the players and it is dramatic. The second problem is arbitration. They have been struggling on almost every match since the start of the competition. There too, I think that it does not matter for the EHF (European Handball Federation, Editor’s note) since the players are not important and that equity in sport is not important for the EHF either. .
Laura Flippes injured her knee. Do you think it is linked to the sequence imposed by the EHF to play two matches in 24 hours?
You have the precautionary principle. It has been applied for a year in France, with enormous constraints for all French people. We have 16 French women who come here, on whom we impose enormous constraints all day long and who we play twice in less than 24 hours. Where is the logic ? Frankly, who are we kidding?
You blame the EHF for not postponing the meeting to Sunday, to avoid a chain of two matches in 24 hours?
There were plenty of solutions. We were constructive, but they didn’t want to hear anything. It is disrespectful and dangerous for the players. Now what I hope is that the world of handball will move. We must not forget that, if it is the cruciate ligaments, Laura Flippes will not make the Olympics, will not make the European Cup, will not play for six months for her club and will not play the qualification for the World Championship if we play qualifying. But that doesn’t seem to be important. It seems to be important for us, the teams. At the end of this competition, we have to meet all, all the federations, with Denmark I hope, to say stop. It is unacceptable. Ineligible.
