On 1.4.2009 GCH lodged a complaint against EHF/IHF, challenging the monopoly of the International federations. During the 13th ordinary General Assembly GCH discussed the possibility to split the complaint in two parts: one against IHF and one against EHF.

Since April 2009 GCH is in concrete negotiations with EHF, regarding the change of the structure of European Handball and the involvement of the various stakeholders (clubs, players, leagues) in the decision taking process concerning professional handball issues. The next meeting between GCH and EHF delegations will take place on 11.2.10 in Vienna. A draft of a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (to be presented to the next ordinary EHF Congress) will be discussed.

Splitting the complaint, GCH would be able to suspend the complaint against EHF temporarily.  

At the same time IHF continues to refuse any communication with GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG, a representation of 19 European Top Clubs.  GB

For the first time in history the EHF will pay compensation to Clubs for the release of players to the national teams. Due to a statement of Secretary General M. Wiederer the Executive Committee will be requested to take an according decision next Friday.

Although the amount (400.000 Euros) is not the result of negotiations between EHF and Clubs, GCH welcomes the decision and regards it to be a step in the right direction. The commitment was made by EHF during the negotiations of EHF and GCH.  GB

On 18th January 2010 one of the most successful handball clubs in the world, the 8 times Women Championsleague Winner Hypo NiederÖsterreich from Vienna/Austria (Hypo NÖ) lodged a complaint at Vienna Court, challenging the monopoly of IHF/EHF and § 20 – 23 of the IHF Transferregulations. The club indicates that IHF/EHF have no legal basis to oblige the club to release players to various National Teams. 

Hypo NÖ complains about the fact that the National and International Federations do not pay any compensation to the club. At the same time the club is obliged to insure the player salaries against injury on the Clubs account, whilst the players are working and earning money as employees for the various Federations.

The complaint is split into two parts, one refering to players to be released to the Austrian National Team and the second refering to players to be released to other countries (ie France, Brazil, Norway).

As a consequence Hypo NÖ demands to be exempted from the obligation to release players to the various national teams or at least to receive an appropriate compensation.

The club intends to inform the international press during the final weekend of the EHF Euro 2010 in Vienna about the complaint in detail. GB

Am 18.1.2010 hat der 8-malige Frauen Championsleague Sieger Hypo NiederÖsterreich (Hypo NÖ) Klage beim ‘Landesgericht für Zivilsachen Wien’ eingelegt und das Monopol von IHF/EHF angegriffen, sowie die Internationale Transferbestimmungen § 20 – 23 in Frage gestellt.

Die Klage ist zweigeteilt und bezieht sich einmal auf Österreichische und einmal auf Nicht-Österreichische Spielerinnen. Hypo NÖ beklagt, dass der Österreichische Verband, dritte nationale Verbände, die EHF und die IHF Erträge generieren, indem sie auf Clubspieler zurückgreifen. Der Club trägt das Verletzungsrisiko und ist zudem verpflichtet die Spieler auf eigenen Kosten gegen Verletzung zu versichern, ohne hierfür eine Entschädigung zu erhalten.      

Hypo NÖ beantragt bei Gericht festzustellen, dass der Klub nicht verpflichtet ist, Spielerinnen auf Anweisung der Vebände zur Nationalmannschaft abzustellen.

Ersatzweise wird das Gericht aufgefordert, die Verbände auf Zahlung einer Abstellungsentschädigung zu verurteilen.

Eine ähnliche Beschwerde hatte die GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG am 1.4.2010 bei der Europäischen Kommission in Brüssel eingereicht.

Am kommenden Wochenende will der Club im Rahmen des Finalwochenendes der EURO 2010 die Öffentlichkeit im Rahmen einer Pressekonferenz über die Einzelheiten der Klage informieren.  GB

The 12^th ordinary General Assembly of GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG took place in Madrid on 2nd November 2009.  

Joan Marin/BM Ciudad Real und Xavi O’Callaghan/FC Barcelona were re-elected unanimously as President and Deputy President of GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG.

The assembly discussed the results of the Limassol EHF-Congress in detail, especially Motion No 5, regarding the invention of a ‘Professional Handball Board’. The motion was supported by 22 nations, but 10 votes were missing for the required 2/3 majority (21 against, 4 abstentions).

For the second time the Executive Committee tried to involve the clubs in the structure of European Handball and for the second time (first time in Rome 2007) the according motion did not achieve the required majority the EHF highest body.

As a reaction the General Assembly of GCH confirmed the complaint, lodged with the European Commission on 1.4.2009 unanimously.

Anyhow GCH is ready to continue the dialogue, started with the EHF Executive Committee. GCH-President Joan Marin will attend the next ExCo meeting in Kopenhagen on 20^th November 2009 and inform about the position of the clubs.

The General Assembly discussed the invitations, received by players of GCH member clubs for the match between the Croatian National Team and a World Selection, scheduled on 2^nd December 2009. The date, the insurance and the compensation for release of players were not agreed between IHF and clubs. The date is not acceptable, as important matches in the national leagues take place around this date. The clubs agreed to take common action in this matter. More information will follow on 6.11.09. GB

The 10. EHF Extraordinary Congress took place last weekend in Limassol/Cyprus. The Presidents of 47 member nations met in order to discuss important issues, concerning the future of handball.

Motion No 5, proposed by the EHF Executive Committee, had the intention to establish a co-operation between EHF and the various stakeholders in professional handball, such as Clubs, Leagues and Players.

These groups were to be represented in the ‘Professional Handball Board’, a body which was supposed to have the same function like the ‘Professional Football Strategy Council’, successfully established by the UEFA in January 2008.

The highest body in European Handball, the Congress, rejected the motion, forwarded by its Executive Committee.

The General Assembly of GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG will deal with this decision and further results of the Congress during its next meeting on 1st/2nd November 2009 in Madrid.

Dusseldorf, 26.10.09  GB

Further to the meeting held in Garda (ITA) on July 21/22 2009, GCH and EHF met in Langenlois (AUT) on September 10/11 to continue on a technical level the work started in Italy in a more political perspective.

Both parties agreed on the principles that would make the representation of European clubs possible and effective inside the structure of the EHF through a board whose creation will be the object of a specific motion (motion N°5) to be submitted to the EHF extraordinary congress to be held in Cyprus on October 23/24. The technicalities of the agreement will constitute a Memorandum of Understanding.

Both parties also agreed on a phasing for the withdrawal of the complaint lodged by GCH against the EHF.

All participants expressed their satisfaction at the progress accomplished over the last few months and their strong desire to build up an adequate level of cooperation to contribute to the further development of handball in Europe.

Text: EHF/GCH

GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG and European Handball Federation met in Garda (ITA) on July 21/22 2009 on the invitation of EHF president Tor Lian to discuss the position of stake holders and more specifically clubs in the European Handball Federation in the future with the ambition to supply significant input to the EHF Executive Committee in the perspective of the EHF extraordinary congress to be held in Cyprus in October 2009.

The meeting was placed under the dual leadership of GCH president Joan Marin and EHF vice president Jean Brihault and involved Tomaz Jersic and Dierk Schmaeschke as well as Ralf Dejaco and Michael Wiederer from EHF side.

Both parties initially stated their desire to continue working together and to find a better articulation inside the EHF so as to give the clubs a position in the decision-making process likely to represent the essential role that they play in European handball.

To this end and in agreement with the wishes expressed by GCH they worked on the concept of a club structure and a strategic forum for handball stake holders comparable to those implemented in European football.

Both parties expressed their satisfaction at the good atmosphere and efficiency that prevailed throughout the meeting and agreed to jointly pursue their reflection on the issues at stake.

Duesseldorf, 23.7.09

In German HANDBALLWOCHE No 21, dated 19.05.09, EHF Secretary General Michael Wiederer is quoted with the statement that the Managing Director of GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG, Gerd Butzeck, has lodged a complaint with the European Commission in Brussels, in order to have more say regarding planning, organisation and marketing of international competitions and that this complaint was unknown to his own organisation.

Herewith I would to correct as follows:
The complaint of GCH with the European Commission was lodged by the Belgium lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont on behalf of GCH on 01.04.2009. Mr. Dupont received the according order/authorization from GCH – which means from my organisation – on 19.02.09. The order/authorization is signed by the Spanish President of GCH, Mr. Joan Marin.

The order is based on an according board decision, dated 12.02.09.

Gerd Butzeck/General Manager GCH

In der Handballwoche Nr. 21 vom 19.05.2009 wird der EHF-Generalsekretär Michael Wiederer u. a. mit der Aussage zitiert, der Geschäftsführer der GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG, Gerd Butzeck, hätte bei der EU in Brüssel eine Klage eingereicht, um mehr Mitspracherecht bei der Planung, Organisation und Vermarktung internationaler Turniere zu bekommen. Diese Klage habe seine eigene Organisation nicht gekannt.

Hierzu stelle ich richtig:
Die an die EU-Kommission gerichtete Beschwerde wurde von dem belgischen Rechtsanwalt Jean-Louis Dupont im Auftrag der GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG (GCH) am 01.04.09 eingelegt.

Herr Dupont hat den Auftrag hierzu von der GCH – also von ‚meiner Organisation’ – mit Schreiben vom 19.02.2009 erhalten. Dieses Schreiben ist vom spanischen Präsidenten der GCH, Herrn Joan Marin, unterschrieben.

Der Auftragserteilung des Präsidenten liegt ein entsprechender Vorstandsbeschluss vom 12.02.09 zugrunde.

Gerd Butzeck/General Manager GCH