Pop star Pink offered to pay a fine issued against the Norwegian female beach handball team after the team wore shorts instead of bikini bottoms at a recent competition.
After the comment, the European Handball Federation (EHF) issued a statement saying it donated the amount of the 1,500 euro fine, or approximately $1,770, to a “major international sports foundation which supports equality for women and girls in sports.”
The penalty was leveled against the team at the European Beach Handball Championships in Bulgaria last week after the team wore shorts. The EHF said the moved violated “athlete uniform regulations” dictated by the sport’s international federation.
But the Grammy Award winner on Saturday tweeted that she is “VERY proud” of the team “FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES ABOUT THEIR ‘uniform.’”
“Good on ya, ladies. I’ll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up,” she shared, calling for the EHF to be fined over the team's punishment.
Representatives for the singer declined to comment further to USA TODAY.
The Norwegian female beach handball team posted an Instagram story on Monday featuring Pink's comments alongside a GIF of two people hugging.
Last week, the team also posted a photo of themselves on Instagram wearing shorts with a caption thanking fans who supported the decision.
“We really appreciate all the love we have received,” they wrote.
The Norwegian team asked the EHF ahead of the championships for permission to wear shorts, CBS News reported. However, the team was told that breaking the uniform rules would be punishable by fines.
"The EHF acknowledges the position of the players involved and further steps towards change, in close coordination with the International Handball Federation, have been and are in motion," EHF President Michael Wiederer said in the Monday statement.
"We are very much aware of the attention the topic has received over the past days, and while changes cannot happen overnight, we are fully committed that something good comes out of this situation right now,” he added.
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The team’s move is not the first time in recent days that female athletes have targeted longtime uniforms.
On Sunday, the German gymnastics team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo wore unitards that stretched to their ankles – instead of the familiar bikini-cut leotards – as a statement against sexualization of women in gymnastics.
German gymnast Sarah Voss, 21, said the team was not sure they were going to wear the uniforms at the Olympics until they came together before the meet.
“We sat together today and said, OK, we want to have a big competition," Voss said. “We want to feel amazing, we want to show everyone that we look amazing."
Contributing: The Associated Press
