ZAGREB, CROATIA - Despite the law on stopping disorder at sports events, which prohibits people entering sports objects that are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and who try to bring alcohol into the building, premier Ivo Sanader and minister Jadranka Kosor consumed alcohol at Zagreb’s handball arena, during the handball match.

With the consumption of alcohol, premier Sanader and other VIP guests that enjoyed a glass of champagne, are now facing a fine of up to 10 thousand kuna (and the organizer faces up to 100,000 kuna).

Alcohol was not poured anywhere else but in the VIP rooms, which the president of the organizational committee for the World Handball Championship, Silvijo Njiric, justified with the fact that alcohol is poured at all sports events everywhere in the world, even in Formula 1.

Njiric: How do I prohibit alcohol to the premier?

“I did not serve alcohol. Alcohol was served in the VIP section, as well as every other VIP section. That is nothing new. Alcohol is poured at all matches around the world. That is the justification” said Njiric. He added that in some countries alcohol is served even though it is most strictly prohibited.

According to his words, he did not violate the law, because non-alcoholic beer was poured there, and only in the VIP sections, just like in other countries, was alcohol poured.

“Alcohol was poured in the VIP section. I do not consider that consumption or sale of alcohol. According to that, we did not break the law. How do I stop the premier or president of the International Handball Federation having a glass of champagne. There was also no alcohol on the handball court, besides the celebrations when France won. I repeat, alcohol is poured at all events. We strictly followed the law in the Arena. We are not an exception to the rule, alcohol is poured at all matches in the VIP section” stressed Njiric, and gave the example of the Snow Queen competition on Zagreb’s Sljeme mountain.

Take a look at the photo gallery: Croatian Politicians Cheer Croatian Team.