The Norwegian women's beach handball team has reacted to their recent "sexist" dress code fine.
According to BBC News, Norwegian goalkeeper Tonje Lerstad stated in a recent Radio 1 Newsbeat interview that she was outraged to have been fined $1,768 for wearing shorts in lieu of bikini bottoms.
Lerstad stated: "It's so shocking that we have to pay for not playing in our panties. It's really stupid, but we've just got to fight on."
However, she added that she had been shocked and gratified when 41-year-old pop icon Pink offered to pay the fine for them, stating: "We sent it in our group chat and everybody was like: 'Wow, this is sick.' It was so weird.
"She doesn't have to pay but she can give us some tickets and we can meet up [at] a concert in our shorts. There have been so many people asking to pay the money so maybe we should just make a big bank account."
The European Handball Federation (EHF) issued a fine of $176 per player against the Scandinavian beach sports team over its sartorial decision on Monday, July 19.
Per BBC News, a spokesperson for the organization stated: "The Disciplinary Commission at the Beach Handball EURO 2021 has dealt with a case of improper clothing.
"In the bronze medal game against Spain on Sunday the team of Norway played with shorts that are not according to the Athlete Uniform Regulations defined in the IHF Beach Handball Rules of the Game."
Indeed, Insider reports that EHF's regulations clearly stipulate that players must wear bikini bottoms when they are competing in tournament games.
However, in the wake of the EHF's controversial ruling, Pink took to Twitter in a post made on Sunday, July 25, writing to her 31 million followers:
"I'm VERY proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES ABOUT THEIR 'uniform.'
"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. [sic]"
Meanwhile, The Herald Sun reports that Norwegian Handball Federation President Kare Geir Lio stated these concerns were not new and that his organization has been campaigning for regulatory changes for years.
Lio stated: "We have contacted them and worked for this for several years. We have raised it at the congress and we have been promised that this will be sorted out. Still, nothing happens."
