Pink Offers To Pay Fine For Norwegian Women’s Handball Team After RefusingTo Wear ‘Sexist’ Bikinis

Pink showed her support for the Norwegian women’s handball team by offering them to pay a $1,765.28 fine. The handball team was accused by the European Handball Federation (EHF) of violating the dress code during their match against Spain in Verna, Bulgaria.

The EHF said that the women played in “improper clothing,” because they chose to wear shorts instead of the mandated bikini bottoms at the European Beach Handball Championships. Each female player was ordered to pay €150, for a total of €1,500 (about $1,700).

“I’m VERY proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES BOUT THEIR ‘uniform,'” wrote Pink on Twitter. “The European Handball federation SHOULD BE FINED FOR SEXISM. Good on ya, ladies. I’ll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up.”

According to the International Handball Federation (IHF), “female athletes must wear bikini bottoms … with a close fit and cut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg. The side of width must be of a maximum of 10 centimeters.”

Player Katinka Haltvik said that the team made a last-minute decision to change their uniforms.

“It was very spontaneous. We thought, ‘Let’s just do it now, and then see what happens,” she told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.

Norway’s Handball Federation (NHF) was supportive of this decision and also agreed to pay the fine for each team member.

“I got a message 10 minutes before the match that they would wear the clothing that they were satisfied with. And they got our full support,” NHF President Kåre Geir told NBC News.

“We are very proud of these girls who are at the European Championships in beach handball. They raised their voice and told us that enough is enough,” the organization said through an Instagram post. “We are the Norwegian Handball Federation and we stand behind you and support you. We will continue to fight to change the international regulations for attire so that players can play in the clothing they are comfortable with.”

 

EHF President Michael Wiederer announced that the handball organization will reevaluate the current dress code.

“I can confirm that the EHF will do all it can to ensure that a change of athlete uniform regulations can be implemented,” Wiederer said in a statement. “Significant efforts will be made in order to further promote the sport in the best way possible for everyone, regardless of gender.”

Spain won the bronze medal game, Germany gold and Denmark silver.