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1 / 2Photo: Johan Nilsson / TT
In football, many changed years ago and even Wimbledon has scrapped the white dress code for the ladies.
But in the handball World Cup, the white shorts still live on for some teams.
– It is a very stressful moment, says Nathalie Hagman.
White shorts in women’s sports – with concerns about bleeding when players are menstruating – have long been debated.
But despite being scrapped in many places, they remain in handball.
Ahead of the WC, which starts this week, the Scandinavian federations therefore got together and demanded a change.
– I hate white shorts, Norwegian star Veronica Kristiansen told NRK earlier this fall.
– Personally, I think it’s both embarrassing and embarrassing, and it (the menstrual cycle) is something you can’t control. So away with the white shorts, please.
Step back
To add to the matter, the Hungarian major team Györi, where Kristiansen plays, switched from green to white shorts in the first place before the season.
A step back, it seems?
– Absolutely, says Nathalie Hagman, everyday teammate with the Norwegian in Györi.
– I find it very difficult to see that such a simple thing cannot simply be changed. Considering how hard it is for girls to play in white shorts, it should be very easy.
Even in other sports, the white shorts are certainly still there in many places. But some teams and national teams have come much further.
Among the soccer teams that ditched the white shorts are, for example, the national teams of Denmark and England, as well as club teams such as Manchester City in England and Rosengård in Sweden.
Even in tennis, the dress code has been up and in 2023 the classic Wimbledon changed its dress code and allowed the women players to wear dark underwear.
– I stand behind it. It is a great relief. I had my period last year during Wimbledon and it was very stressful, said the then world number four Coco Gauff.
“Unnecessary worry”
However, according to the International Handball Federation (IHF), the demand from Norway, Denmark and Sweden came too late for this year’s WC, which starts this week. However, the association has promised to try to prioritize the darker shorts options when, for example, Denmark plays its matches.
In Györi, the club has promised a new discussion before next season’s match clothes are ordered and printed.
– I think it’s always about having to keep raising the issue and problematizing it, says Anna Lagerquist, who also plays for the Hungarian big club.
– It’s an unnecessary worry, so if you can remove it, that would be great.
