Skjern Håndbold faces a crucial battle in the Danish Championship final series against Aalborg Håndbold, as winning the series is now the only path to secure a spot in the Champions League next season. This new condition, confirmed by the Danish Handball Federation (DanskHåndbold), has left the club surprised and concerned about the interpretation of the rules.

The club had initially celebrated their place in the final, believing it guaranteed them the right to at least apply for a Champions League spot. However, DanskHåndbold clarified that this is not the case, leading to disappointment within the team.

Carsten Thygesen, Skjern’s director, conveyed the club’s focus on the upcoming finals despite the arising uncertainty. He informed the players of the club’s stance on what they consider to be “rule confusion.”

The core issue revolves around the allocation of Champions League places. Denmark typically has one spot for the Danish Champion and another for the regular season winner, assuming they apply successfully. If one club wins both titles, the silver medalist receives the second Champions League spot.

The point of contention lies in DanskHåndbold’s interpretation that a team must qualify for the European League, the second-tier European tournament, to be eligible for a Champions League upgrade. Skjern’s eighth-place finish in the regular season means they did not qualify for the European League, and DanskHåndbold believes GOG should have the right to apply for the Champions League place.

Skjern Håndbold’s lawyer, Hans Jeppesen, contests this interpretation, arguing that neither the EHF’s rules nor DanskHåndbold’s rules contain such a prerequisite. He asserts that Champions League places are allocated first, followed by European League spots, and that Skjern should be considered for Champions League participation if they win the silver medal.

Frank Smith, Dansk Håndbold’s tournament manager, stated that they consulted with the European federation (EHF) to ensure compliance with the rules. The EHF confirmed DanskHåndbold’s interpretation, solidifying the requirement for European League qualification as a prerequisite for Champions League consideration.