The Finnish Shooting Sport Federation issued a press release

On February 28th, 2025 the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation (SAL) issued the press release entitled „German court orders SAL to pay damages“. In particular, it says:

A German court has ordered the Finnish and Italian Shooting Sports Federations to pay damages in the so-called Ratner case.

Alexander Ratner, the President of the European Shooting Confederation (ESC), sued the Finnish Shooting Sports Federation (SAL) a year ago on defamation-type grounds after SAL had submitted a request to add a vote of confidence to the agenda of the ESC General Assembly. The meeting was held in October 2023.

In addition to the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation, Ratner filed a defamation lawsuit the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) President Luciano Rossi, and the Italian Shooting Federation.

Ratner sought damages of 100,000 Euros.

The court has now ordered the defendants to pay 30,000 Euros in damages and legal costs and to refrain from repeating the matters mentioned in the letter, under threat of a fine of 250,000 Euros.

The court's decision requires the defendants to correct the claim that Ratner had made it difficult for the ISSF to transfer its daily operations to the new President. According to the decision, Ratner also did not violate his loyalty to the ISSF when he presented the presidential candidates on the ESC website in November 2022. The third corrective claim is that Ratner organized the 2023 European Championships in Wroclaw in the correct competition format.

Italy and Finland do not intend to appeal the decision. According to an analysis by an independent German law firm requested by SAL, the chances of the appeal being successful are poor.

P.S. On February 14th, 2025 the appeal was withdrawn and the decision of the Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main as of November 22nd, 2024 entered into force.

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