The European Handball Federation (EHF) issued a statement after the coach of the Croatian national handball team, Dagur Sigurdsson, openly criticized the organization of Euro 2026 at a press conference ahead of the semi-finals.
Press release of the EHF we transmit in full:
It’s EHF took note of the criticism due to the schedule of the competition, which the EHF and the hosts agreed long ago. All national associations were involved in the process and knew the schedule at least six months before the start of the tournament.
We noted that it was more challenging for the teams traveling from Malmö, but the schedule was similar in earlier competitions, for example, at the European Championship in Croatia in 2018.
About the hotel in Silkeborg The EHF and the organizing committee have received nothing but praise so far. The hotel in Silkeborg was chosen for the Croatian delegation so that the two opponents in the semi-finals, Germany and Croatia, would have equal conditions. The Croatian delegation was informed about this on Wednesday evening.
Slightly longer journeys they are not unusual in international competitions; at the 2025 World Cup, the Croatian national team stayed in Karlovac and traveled to Zagreb for matches.
And the schedule of media obligations was presented to all teams by the EHF much earlier. After the Euros, the EHF, together with the organizers, will closely evaluate the organization of the championship and draw conclusions.
“They put us on the bus like chickens”: Sigurdsson bewildered by the conditions at the EP
(www.jabuka.tv | Photo: Sanjin Strukić/Pixsell)
