Vienna  - An Austrian women's handball coach received a hefty fine and a three-year ban Wednesday for colliding with a French Metz player, to prevent a decisive goal against his Hypo Niederoesterreich team, the European Handball Federation (EHF) said.

Coach Gunnar Prokop's foul occurred in the last seconds of a European Champions League game in Austria last week, which ended with a 27-27 draw.

The Vienna-based EHF handed 69-year-old Prokop a fine of 45,000 euros (66,000 dollars) and a life ban on taking functions in the federation, in addition to a three-year ban from competitions.

The EHF said its ruling was based on Prokop's statement immediately after the game, when media quoted him as saying, "in order not to lose a game, I have to risk being sent off."

Prokop has since stepped down as coach and expressed remorse.(dpa)