VPSCG requests urgent response from World Aquatics due to unfair ranking system at U16 World Championships

The Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro informs the public that yesterday morning, before the match between the national teams of Montenegro and Russia, it sent an official letter to several relevant addresses within World Aquatics, expressing serious concerns about the scoring and ranking system applied at the World Water Polo Championship for Under-16s in Zagreb.

Even before the match with Russia, mathematical projections clearly showed that Montenegro, even in the event of victories over Russia and Germany and the completion of the first phase of the competition with all four victories, would not be guaranteed a place among the top eight teams and the continuation of the fight for a medal.

"Such a possibility represents a kind of sporting absurdity: a team can win all matches, including direct duels with quality opponents, and still be eliminated based on a complex mathematical formula, the initial ranking of the opponent and the results of matches in which it itself did not participate," the VPSCG announced.

After a draw against Russia in regular time and a loss only after a penalty shootout, as well as today's victory over Germany, Montenegro finished the first phase with three wins, one draw and no losses in regular time. Despite this, according to the current system, our national team could remain out of the medal race.

"An additional illogicality is the possibility that Italy, which suffered a direct defeat by Montenegro, could advance to the top eight, while Montenegro could remain outside the quarter-finals. Similar problems do not only apply to our national team. Other high-quality teams could also be harmed by the scoring system, and some scenarios show that even a national team with all four wins could remain outside the top eight. The outcome of the Greece–Hungary match could also lead to a situation where one or even both national teams, despite their quality and achieved results, remain outside the finals."

The VPSCG said that in this way, the sports result achieved in the pool is put in the background, while priority is given to mathematical calculations that are difficult for players, coaches, parents, the media and the sports public to understand.

"Such an approach further degrades water polo, a sport whose basic rules and the path to sporting success should be clear and understandable. Of particular concern is the fact that these are underage athletes. These boys spent a large part of the summer and school holidays training, preparing and giving up time with their families in order to earn a national team call-up and represent Montenegro, their families and themselves in the best possible way at the World Championship," the VPSCG announced.

They add that it is unacceptable for them to return from one of the most important competitions in their sporting development to date disappointed, with the feeling that what they achieved in the pool was not properly valued.

"The Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro invests significant financial resources, professional work and organizational efforts in the preparations of all representative selections, including the U16 generation. The goal is for our young athletes to have the best possible conditions and to worthily represent Montenegro and water polo as one of the most important sports of our country. Therefore, we have an obligation to protect their work, sporting integrity and the right to fair competition."

Following the letter we sent to World Aquatics, an urgent meeting was organized between representatives of that organization and the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro.

"At the meeting, we reiterated our serious concerns about the consequences of the current system and pointed to specific scenarios that could produce unfair sporting results. World Aquatics representatives said they would consider options to find an appropriate solution."

One possible solution was to introduce a round of 16, which would allow the TPI system to be retained for seeding, while the quarter-final spot would be decided directly in the pool. The possibility of eliminating the opponent's ranking points was also considered, as was the application of the classic scoring system: three points for a win in regulation, two for a win after a penalty shootout, one for a loss after a penalty shootout, and zero points for a loss in regulation.

"This precedent has already been extensively reported by international specialized water polo media, which criticize the existing system as unfair, difficult to understand and disconnected from the actual sporting performance of the national teams. The Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro today sent an urgent letter to the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, requesting it to address the International Olympic Committee and request its urgency towards World Aquatics, as an international federation recognized by the IOC. In this way, we have taken all available institutional and diplomatic steps, not only to protect the interests of the Montenegrin national team, but, above all, to protect sporting integrity, the fairness of the competition and the rights of minor athletes."

This issue goes beyond the placement of a single national team.

"These are values ​​that international sport must protect: equality, fair competition, respect for the results achieved in the pool and the dignity of every young athlete. We expect an urgent and responsible response from World Aquatics, in accordance with the principles and obligations stipulated by that organization in its Constitution, as well as with the fundamental values ​​of the Olympic Movement. The Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro will continue to use all available institutional mechanisms to protect its national team members, the integrity of water polo and the basic principles of sport," the statement concluded.