A serious incident occurred during a youth handball match between Sanxenxo Balonmano and BM Rasoeiro in Galicia, Spain, where the grandfather of a referee was gravely injured following a confrontation in the stands. The altercation began when the father of a player confronted the referee over several decisions made during the game.
The referee's grandfather, who was present in the audience, requested respect from the agitated parent, leading to a physical attack that resulted in significant injuries. The Galician Handball Federation condemned the act of violence in a statement, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable both on and off the field.
The federation reiterated its commitment to values such as respect, sportsmanship, and cooperation, which should govern all levels of the sport, particularly in youth handball. They expressed support for the family of the injured individual and pledged to take appropriate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In response to the violence, the Galician Government has convened the Galician Commission for the Control of Violence to address the situation and ensure accountability. The commission's president highlighted the importance of safeguarding essential values in sports and announced that a meeting would take place to discuss the incident further.