Dagur Sigurdsson explodes: “EHF doesn’t care about players – it’s all about the show”

Posted on 29. January 2026.

Croatian national team coach Dagur Sigurdsson delivered a brutal opening statement at the press conference in Herning, saying out loud everything that has been bothering him.

“I didn’t have time to think about the match. We arrived in Denmark at 14:30 and I had to come here straight away. We’re not located near the arena. I had a 35-minute drive for this circus, and I have to drive 35 minutes back.

I couldn’t hold a training session with the team. This is proof that the EHF doesn’t care about players and teams. They’re like fast food. They don’t care about quality, they only sell. They make a good show and a good press conference. It doesn’t matter that we had a four-hour trip from Malmö. We were in the Malmö group and had two fewer days to play seven games. Anyone who knows anything about sport knows that’s too much for the players.

We had to play two matches in 22 hours. The next morning they put us on a bus like chickens and brought us here, where we’re far away from everything. Then I have to come here and do a press conference. We’re in the semi-finals. This is shocking and scandalous. Thank you all. I’ll be happy when I can leave,” Sigurdsson said in his opening remarks.

Sigurdsson: It isn’t fair

After Sigurdsson’s outburst, he is asked what his plan is going forward.

“We don’t have the resources to solve this situation. It is simply what it is. The planning is unbelievable. We play on two consecutive days, we have one day less to rest, and on top of that we have travel. The other teams are staying in the hotel and have better preparation for the semi-final.

This is alarming and I do not accept this approach. I know it’s difficult, but when it becomes unfair to some, I have to speak up. Until now we haven’t complained, but when you wake up and you have to do this much travelling, it’s not okay. And then on top of everything I still have to come to this press conference. It’s impossible to have a quality training session under these conditions. I hope tomorrow will be better, but it seems they only care about the spectacle. I hope tomorrow’s match will be a good one,” Sigurdsson said, briefly touching on food-related issues as well:

“I don’t want to keep complaining. That’s not my biggest problem. The problem is the time and the disrespect towards the team. All the teams ate in the same hotel. For me it was fine — I can’t speak for the others.”