The opposite would have surprised us, but it still had to be made official. The protest filed by Sweden following its semi-final loss against France (34-30) at the Euro has been rejected, the European Handball Federation (EHF) announced on Saturday. This complaint related to the incredible free kick scored by Elohim Prandi in the final second of regulation time which allowed the Blues to snatch extra time (27-27), Friday in Cologne (Germany).
The PSG left-back scored with an incredible off-balance shot. However, in the event of a free kick or a penalty, the shooter “must have part of the foot in permanent contact with the ground until the ball is thrown”, according to the rules of the International Handball Federation (IHF).
Sweden criticized the non-use of video (VR) to check whether the free kick was legal. “VR is only used when referees have serious doubts about the correctness of their decision or when they are not able to see the situation correctly. The decision whether or not to use VR belongs solely to the referees or their delegates,” responded the EHF in a press release, deeming the Swedish request “inadmissible”.