TORONTO -- American pop star Pink has offered to pay the fines given to the Norwegian womenâs beach handball team for their decision to wear shorts instead of bikini bottoms during a recent European championship game.
On Saturday, the singer tweeted her support for the team after the European Handball Federation (EHF) fined them $1,500 euros (C$2,218) â or $150 euros ($220) for each player â for âimproper clothingâ during the bronze-medal match against Spain on July 18.
âIâm VERY proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝ THEIR âuniformâ. The European handball federation SHOULD BE FINED FOR SEXISM. Good on ya, ladies. Iâll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up,â .
While the Norwegian Handball Federation (NHF) has already stated they were prepared to pay the fine, the handball team still expressed their gratitude to Pink on Instagram.
In a post shared on the , they wrote: âWow! Thank you so much for the support.â
Norwayâs minister for culture and sport, Abid Raja, also thanked the Grammy Award-winner for her tweet.
âThankyou [sic] for your support P!nk! As Minister of sports and equality in Norway I have sent letter to all nordic ministers of sports for a joint statement to support our women. I hope all the fans and friends you have give all their support as well, so we can change this stupid rule!â
According to the EHF, the Norwegian team didnât comply with uniform regulations that stipulate female athletes must wear bikini bottoms featuring a maximum side width of 10 centimetres, a âclose fit,â and a âcut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg.â
Conversely, the uniform regulations for male athletes require they wear shorts that are ânot too baggyâ and 10 centimetres above the kneecap.
Pink isnât the only one who has chimed in on the controversy, former tennis star Billie Jean King also and demanded that the âsexualisation of women athletes must stop.â