FCH Managing Director G. Butzeck was invited as observer to the 9^th ordinary General Assembly of European Club Association (ECA), taking place in Geneva on 10.+11.9.12. The content of the new ‘Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)’ between UEFA and ECA was presented to the representatives of 135 football clubs. ECA Chairman K.H. Rummenigge (FC Bayern Munich, Germany) expressed himself satisfied with the document. At the same time he is ‘optimistic’ that in the near future a ‘similar agreement’ will be reached with FIFA.

The International Handball Federation (IHF) refused to start negotiations with FCH on a MoU before the next IHF Congress (which will take place in Qatar in October 2013). GB

Surprisingly IHF declared to be unable to discuss a ‘Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)’ with the clubs. The MoU was supposed to base the relation between Clubs and IHF on a solid basis. Only 4 months ago IHF stated the President welcomes the proposal of a MoU and envisaged according negotiations.

According agreements – regulating compensation, insurance and calendar issues – do exist between UEFA and European Club Association (ECA) and between European Handball Federation (EHF) and FCH. The FCH General Assembly will deal with the issue on 27th May 2012 in Cologne. GB

The International Handball Federation (IHF) established an insurance for player salaries in case of injury for the last World Championship/Sweden 2011 and for the Olympic Games (OG) Qualification Tournament in April 2012. IHF does not plan to write an insurance for the OG in London 2012. A high IHF Official confirmed last week: ‘This will be under the responsibility of the National Olympic Committees’. GB

On request of FORUM CLUB HANDBALL (FCH) the President of International Handball Federation (IHF) Dr. Hassan Moustafa and his 1^st Vice-President Miguel Roca met the leadership of FCH in Basle on 7^th February 2012. FCH President Tomaz Jersic/SLO and his Vice-Presidents Joan Marin/ESP and Dierk Schmäschke/GER expressed the wish of the clubs to establish the cooperation of IHF and FCH on a contractual basis. It was agreed to start work on an according draft including calendar, insurance, compensation and governance issues.

President Moustafa ensured his guests that clubs are always welcome to forward their request to the IHF office. In the future clubs will be informed by IHF about new developments directly. GB

For the first time in history a Club Representative was invited as guest to an IHF Congress. The assembly had to decide upon a lot of important motions. GCH President Joan Marin (BM Renovalia Ciudad Real) was present.

Decisions: 

The assembly did not include the stakeholders (Continental Federations, National Federations, Clubs, Referees, Trainers, Officials, Players, Medical Staff) in the bylaws.

In the future IHF will hold all rights of qualification matches for World Championships (WCH) and Olympic Games.

The assembly refused to enable IHF to open branches and subsidiaries abroad. In the past IHF had some discussions about an office in Cairo.

 USA Team Handball requested to establish a ‘North American&Caribbean Handball Federation’, recognized as a continental federation. The proposal was rejected.

 The Head Office will not be ‘placed under the political responsibility of the IHF President’. An according Council motion was rejected.

 A Norwegian proposal for a women quote was rejected.

 In the future the President will be ‘a full-time salaried President’. The IHF Council will negotiate the labor contract.

 The position of the Secretary General was extinguished.

 A major proposal, increasing the power of the President, was not approved.

 Under 14.1. Executive Committee – Executive Committee Duties the IHF Council proposed:

 7. The President is primarily responsible for:

a. implementing the decisions passed by the Congress, the Council and the Executive Committee

b. supervising the work of the Head Office;

c. relations between IHF stakeholders.

d. the financial transactions

e. presiding over the Congress, the Council, the Executive Committee and emergency committee meetings and those committees he has been appointed to be the chairman of.

f. In case of urgent business, the President shall make decisions between Council and Executive Committee meetings. If such a decision has to be taken without any possibility to consult the Executive Committee members, it will be submitted to the first Council or Executive Committee meeting following the said decision for confirmation.

g. Any additional responsibilities of the President shall be included in the internal organisation regulations of the IHF.

This motion was totally rejected.

 Some federations (eg Germany) did not attend the Congress due to an bomb explosion in Marrakesh earlier this month. GB

On 22.3.2011 for the first time a working group with EHF, IHF, Club, League, Federation representatives and insurance specialists met in Vienna in order to discuss insurance questions. It was a common understanding that during all National Team matches the player salaries have to be insured in favor of the clubs. The working group has the task to find solutions. GB

On 11.3.2011 the President of the International Handball Federation (IHF), Dr. Hassan Moustafa invited Joan Marin (BM Renovalia Ciudad Real) to the upcoming IHF Congress in Marrakesh. Marin is Vice-President of FORUM CLUB HANDBALL (FCH) and President of GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG (GCH).
For the first time during the presidency of Moustafa a leading club representative is officially invited to the assembly of the highest body in world handball. The invitation is one of the outcomes of the first meeting between FCH and IHF which took place in February 2011. GB

Yesterday in Basle/Switzerland FORUM CLUB HANDBALL (FCH) held the first official meeting with International Handball Federation (IHF), represented by President Dr. Hassan Moustafa, 1^st Vice-President Miguel Roca, Amal Khalifa and Patrick Strub (Office).

Major topics of professional club handball were discussed.

‘It was a good and open minded meeting. We offer our support to IHF and IHF offers support to the clubs in all aspects of Professional Handball!’ commented FCH-President Tomaz Jersic.  

The FCH representatives, President Jersic/RK Celje and the two Vice-Presidents Marin/BM Ciudad Real  + Schmäschke/HSV Handball, were invited to the upcoming IHF-Congress in Marrakesh. GB

According to internal studies of GCH about 15 injuries have been registered during the WCH in Sweden 2011. For the first time in history the IHF insured the player salaries in favour of the clubs. According to our (not official) information the compensation will be paid starting from the 15th day after the injury and for a maximum period of 3 month. The monthly compensation is limited to a maximum of 15.000 Euros. The compensation will be paid to the Federation where the player has a working contract. Clubs from all continents will benefit from the insurance which has been demanded by GCH since 2006. GB

On 14^th January 2011 the World Championship (WCH) will start in Sweden.

IHF announced that players salaries will insured be for the first time in history. According to our information the salaries of injured players will be covered up to maximum of 3 months and up to a maximum salary of 15.000 Euros per month in favor of the Clubs.

IHF will pay compensation to Clubs for the release of players to the WCH, depending on the success of the concerned National team. The compensation will be paid for 10 and 17 days and the compensation will vary between 75 and 300 CHF (Swiss Francs) per player per day.

IHF will pay a fee to Clubs for preparing players for the WCH, depending on the success of the concerned National team. The fee will be a one-time-payment which varies between 250 and 1.500 CHF per player.

All information without guarantee. GB