The Norwegian woman's handball team has been fined this week after their players wore shorts instead of bikini bottoms.
Per BBC News, the European Handball Federation (EHF) issued a fine of $1,768 against the Scandinavian beach sports team over its sartorial decision on Monday, July 19.
This equates to approximately $176 per player.
Commenting on the decision in an official statement, a spokesperson for the EHF wrote: "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."
Insider reports that EHF's regulations clearly stipulate that players must wear bikini bottoms when they are competing in tournament games.
Per the above publication, the regulations state: "Women should wear a bikini where the top should be a tight-fitting sports bra with deep openings at the arms. The bottom must not be more than ten centimeters on the sides."
However, the regulations for men are seemingly far more lenient when it comes to the issue of appropriate clothing, with male players advised to wear "tight-fitting tank tops" and shorts that are "not too baggy" and "10 centimeters above the kneecap."
Player Katinka Haltvik has since commented on the situation, telling local media: "People cheered on us for going in front of several teams and taking the brunt. Not all teams can afford to pay such fines."
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."
French national coach Valérie Nicolas has voiced support for Norway's team, branding the fines as "unfair" in an interview with the Norwegian news outlet Verdens Gang.