"The agreement was not kept": Bregenz Handball excluded from the Alpla Summer Cup
Top international clubs such as THW Kiel and TBV Lemgo Lippe will compete at the Alpla Summer Cup on August 1 and 2 in Hard. Bregenz was originally scheduled to participate, but was subsequently withdrawn. The reason: a breach of contract following a controversial incident.
The lakeside sports hall in Hard will be the meeting place for top-class handball clubs at the beginning of August. In addition to host Alpla HC Hard, German record champions THW Kiel, TBV Lemgo Lippe, and Schwaz Handball Tirol will be participating. Another top club from Vorarlberg will be notably absent: Bregenz Handball.
Bregenz Handball was again disinvited. ©Kempter
Bregenz had originally been invited. However, according to Hard managing director Heimo Lindner, the invitation was withdrawn because "they didn't stick to an agreement." "The cancellation came via WhatsApp without much explanation, just that they had reconsidered internally," explains Bregenz Handball managing director Björn Tyrner.
This concerns a meeting following the foul by Ivan Horvat (Hard) on Markus Mahr (Bregenz). According to Lindner, it was agreed during this conversation that both clubs would publish a statement apologizing for their respective actions and statements.
The Harder fans are looking forward to the Alpla Summer Cup. ©Club
"Hard did it, Bregenz didn't," Lindner explained in an interview with VOL.AT. Why Bregenz didn't keep their promise was unclear to him: "I don't know why. The conversation was actually very good and constructive, and both sides apologized."
For Hard, it was a matter of respect to de-escalate the situation – also considering the prominent guests from Germany. For Bregenz, it was a slight setback in their preparations for the new season. "It's a shame we can't play, but we take note of the decision. We would have loved to be guests, because the tournament that Harder is organizing is a great event," says Tyrner.
Lindner emphasizes: "We wanted to make sure things didn't escalate, also out of respect for Lemgo and Kiel." Due to the decision, the first reunion between the two Vorarlberg clubs will not be a warm-up match, but a competitive league match. Schwaz Handball Tirol has been invited to the Alpla Summer Cup instead of Bregenz. "The Tyroleans are really looking forward to the showdown with Germany's top clubs," says Lindner.
Austrian international Nikola Bilyk is coming to Hard with German record champions THW Kiel. ©GEPA
Former Harder player Constantin Möstl is returning to his former stomping grounds with TBV Lemgo Lippe. Whether he will also face his former club is still unclear. ©GEPA
The Alpla Summer Cup is taking place for the second time this year as a top-class preparatory tournament. The organizers have once again secured strong teams for the 2025 edition. The matches will be played in a knockout format. On Friday, Lemgo will face Schwaz (5:00 p.m.), before the hosts take on Kiel (7:30 p.m.). The third-place match (4:00 p.m.) and the grand final (6:30 p.m.) will follow on Saturday.
With Bregenz being excluded, the event is making headlines even before kick-off – albeit off the pitch.
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