9.11.12: FCH prepares further measures against IHF

Date: 2012.11.09 | Category: IHF | Response: 0

FCH starts to prepare measures against IHF, as the World Hanball Federation refuses any form of communication with FCH. During the last weeks various letters and an invitation for a meeting remained without answer (see below). The preparations shall be finalized until the start of the World Championship in Spain 2013.

3.11.12: FCH invited IHF-President Dr. Hassan Moustafa to a meeting – without receiving any answer

As former efforts to communicate with IHF remained without answer, the FCH President Tomaz Jersic invited IHF President Dr. Moustafa to a meeting in Dusseldorf on 24.10.12. The invitation remained without answer.

22.10.12: FCH offered negotiations to IHF – without answer

On 12th October 2012, just three days after the International Handball Federation (IHF) Meeting with Top Nations in Basle, FCH offered negotiations to IHF. FCH intends to settle questions like ‘Good Governance’, calendar, compensation and insurance in writing. Similar agreements exist in Football between European Club Association (ECA) and UEFA/FIFA and in Handball between FCH and European Handball Federation (EHF). According to the IHF bylaws clubs do not have any claim to receive compensation for release of players to the WCH or insurance coverage for player salaries. The offer of FCH for negotiations remained without answer.

9.10.12: IHF-Top Nations Meeting in Basle – FCH was not invited

International Handball Federation (IHF) invited a number of top nations to a meeting at the IHF Headquarter in Basle/Switzerland. During the meeting IHF announced that the club compensation for release of players to the World Championship (WCH) in Spain will be increase for the nations, finishing 1-8th place will we increased. In the future the clubs will receive 400 CHF per day per player, if the team finishes 1-4th and 300 CHF per day per player if the team finishes 5-8th place. According to our information the compensation for teams finishing 9th-24th and the insurance coverage for player salaries will remain the same as during the WCH Sweden 2011.

IHF will also pay a compensation fee to the clubs for future Men’s Olympic Qualification Events. The compensation will amount to CHF 400.- per player and day for teams ranked 1st, CHF 300.- per player and day for teams ranked 2nd, CHF 150.- player and day for teams ranked 3rd- 4th.

Clubs representatives present complained about the fact that none of the IHF decisions was negotiated with the clubs. FCH was not invited to the meeting.

1.10.12: FCH Board Meeting in Spain

Date: 2012.10.05 | Category: Forum Club Handball, IHF | Response: 0

The FCH Board and the EHFM Men’s Club Marketing Board met in Spain on 1.10.12. The elected representatives from Barcelona/ESP, Celje/SLO, Flensburg/GER, Hamburg/GER, Kiel/GER, Kielce/POL, Kolding/DEN, Madrid/ESP and Schaffhausen/SUI (Lund/SWE and Montpellier/FRA excused) discussed CL topics and the relation between Clubs and IHF.

It was unanimous opinion that the quality of the VELUX EHF Championsleague (CL) has been increased tremendously in the last years. Anyhow clubs and EHF shall increase their efforts and make further investments in the product in order to attract more spectators in the arenas and bigger audiences on TV.

IHF President Hassan Moustafa invited EHF, federation and club representatives from 11 countries (CRO, DEN, ESP, FRA, GER, HUN, NOR, SWE, POL, ROM, SRB) to a meeting in the IHF Headquater in Basel/SUI on 8.10.12. Representatives from important handball countries like ie Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland and others were not invited. The club representatives present prepared themselves for the meeting. One more time all clubs underlined their demand to base the relation between Clubs and IHF on a contractual basis.

Beside the agenda the Montpellier betting/match fixing case was in the center of discussion. Unanimously all clubs condemned the behaviour of the involved persons. All top clubs have clauses in their player contracts which prohibit betting of players and their relatives. The public interest in the case causes significant damage to the handball sports. All top clubs in Europe and their officials are requested to inform their players about the consequences of betting and match fixing for Handball in general.

12.9.12: ECA Meeting Geneva

Date: 2012.09.13 | Category: Forum Club Handball, IHF, Other Sports | Response: 0

FCH Managing Director G. Butzeck was invited as observer to the 9th 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

10.9.12: EHF/FCH Meeting in Achenkirch/Austria

Date: 2012.09.13 | Category: EHF, Forum Club Handball | Response: 0

During the last weekend the newly elected leadership of EHF and FCH met in Achenkirch/Austria to speak about the future of European Handball. The content of the meeting will be reported to the next FCH General Assembly, taking place in Barcelona on 25th/26th January 2013. GB

1.8.12: AG København declares bankrupt

Date: 2012.08.01 | Category: EHF | Response: 0

Denish top team AG Kobenhavn declared bankrupt on 31st July 2012. With the financial support of sponsor Jesper Nielsen AG Kobenhavn became one of the top handball clubs in Europe during the last years, selecting Denish and International top players. Now Nielsen announced that ‘Owners have decided to close the company behind the club’.

This decision might mean that many handball stars are without contract at the beginning of the season. Normally all top clubs have finalized their team rooster in august.

This decision might have consequences for the upcoming VELUX EHF Championsleague (CL) and even the Wild Card Tournament.

Last year Bosnian Sarajevo had financial problems and many players left at the beginning of the season.

Beside Kobenhavn Spanish Reale Ademar Leon faces serious financial problems at the beginning of the season. Leon became third in the previous ASOBAL league and qualified for the upcoming CL season. But almost all top players left the team.

The European Handball Federation Secretary General M. Wiederer acted: ‘We must work on a solution to the general situation in particular concerning the ownership and finances of clubs, especially Champions League club in order to preserve the product. The solution will be a joint effort between the EHF and EHF Marketing.”

24.7.12: FIFA faces dispute regarding player release for the London Olympics

Date: 2012.07.26 | Category: Other Sports | Response: 0

FIFA faces a dispute over the release of three players for the London Olympics. French clubs Lorient and Le Mans have each refused to release a player for the Gabon squad, and the west African team have also failed to secure the release of a third player from a Gabon club.

FIFA lost a case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2008 which ruled that clubs were not obliged to release players and the governing body are now monitoring the situation with Gabon.

A FIFA spokesman said: “The National federation are trying to come to an agreement with the clubs. We are aware of the situation and we are maintaining a watching brief.”

(Press Association 24/07/2012, by Martyn Ziegler)

24.6.2012: Results of the 11th EHF Congress

Date: 2012.06.27 | Category: EHF | Response: 0

The 11th Ordinary Congress of the EHF took place in Monte Carlo on 22/23.6.12.

Jean Brihault/France was elected President and Arne Elovsson as Vice-President. A ‘Women’s Handball Board’ was introduced, underlining the importance of women in Handball. Poland (men) and Sweden (women) were awarded with the European Championship in 2016.

In 2004 the EHF congress elected 28 officials, 4 years later 38 and in 2012 a record number of 49 officials! The exact results you find on the EHF webpage.

Interesting detail: Germany and Spain did not succeed to place their candidates in the government of European Handball, the EHF Executive Committee.

German Reiner Witte (Vice-President of the German Federation, President of the German League, President of the European Professional Handball League Association and PHB member) failed twice, first trying to become Vice-President, later to become ordinary Executive Committee member.

Spanish Jesus Guerrero also failed twice, first trying to become member of the Executive Committee, later to become chairman of the important Competitions Commission.

Surprisingly Pedrag Boskovic from Montenegro became Executive Committee member, with the record number of 19 votes! Helgo Magnusdottir from Island became the first lady in this important body.

Slovenian Leopold Kalin, the brother of IHF Competition Commission chairman Leon Kalin, was elected as chairman of the EHF Competition Commission. He won the election against Spanish Jesus Guerrero.

Makedonian Dragan Nachevski became successor of Hungarian Sandor Andorka as chief of European refereeing. In the second ballot he defeated Jiri Konecny from Chekia.

Congratulations to all elected officials! GB

19.6.2012: EHF Congress to take place in Monte Carlo on 22./23.6.2012

Date: 2012.06.19 | Category: EHF | Response: 0

149 candidates want to become elected into the  51 positions offered during the upcoming EHF Congress in Monte Carlo/Monaco. The Election Congress will take place in Hotel Le Meridien Beach Plaza on 22nd and 23rd June 2012. According to the motions tabled the number of 51 offices shall be enlarged. It is intended to promote one gender representative to every EHF Body. The federations shall be forced to send at least one male and one female delegate to EHF Congresses.

Jean Brihault will be elected President.

Four candidates would like to become Vice-President: Per Bertelsen/DEN, Reiner Witte/GER, Ulrich Rubeli/SUI, Arne Elovsson/SWE. Bertelsen, Rubeli and Elovsson are President of their National Federations, Witte is Vice-President of the Federation, President of the League, President of the European Professional Handball Leagues Association and Professional Handball Board member.

15 candidates would like to take one of the three Executive Committee seats without function. These are: van Dorpe/BEL, Cacic/CRO, Bertelsen/DEN, Guerrero/ESP, Witte/GER, Chaatziioannou/GRE, Borsos/HUN, Magnusdottir/ISL, Klein/ISR, Bencans/LAT, Boskovic/MNE, Sojkin/POL, Rubeli/SUI, Marjanovic/SRB, Lavrov/RUS.

Leopold Kalin/SLO and Jesus Guerrero/ESP intend to become chairman of the important Competitions Commission (CC).

7 candidates would like to become ‘Member Refereeing’ of the CC: Konecny/CZE, Nachevski/MKD, Jorstad/NOR, Baum/POL, Goulao/POR, Bürgi/SUI, Fegir/UKR.

Interesting discussions prior to the elections are to be expected. GB

29.5.2012: FIFA’s new $ 75M ‘Club Protection Programme’ protects Professional Football Clubs

Date: 2012.05.29 | Category: Other Sports | Response: 0

FIFA.com, 25.5.2012

FIFA’s new Club protection programme (CPP) which is now set for implementation was part of the 62nd FIFA Congress agenda.

The Club protection programme constitutes an important measure after years of consultations with all members of the international football family on the issue of compensation of clubs for injuries to players while on duty in all ‘A’ international matches listed in FIFA’s international match calendar. This topic is a matter of fundamental importance for FIFA bringing now a sustainable solution on a long term debate between FIFA, the clubs and the Member Associations.

FIFA’s Club protection programme on behalf of the Member Associations will be applicable on a world-wide level in form of a player insurance for all matches listed in the international match calendar for the period 1 September 2012 until 31 December 2014 (the Club protection programme will also include the Olympic Football Tournament in London 2012).

The amount insured is the player’s annual fixed salary with a maximum of a daily amount of about $27,000 (€20,548) paid by the insurance for a maximum period of 365 days making a total amount of $9.7m (€7.5m) per player. The overall estimated cost of this programme is around $75m.

Through the Club protection programme FIFA achieves a global harmonised solution on the insurance of players’ question to the benefit of Confederations, Member Associations, players and clubs. With this program FIFA marks an important step for the benefit of the entire football family in a spirit of dialogue and solidarity.

28.5.2012: 8th General Assembly in Cologne with elections

Date: 2012.05.29 | Category: Forum Club Handball | Response: 0

The 8th General Assembly took place in Cologne/Germany on the fringes of the VELUX EHF Championsleague Final4.

In the first part FCH Board members reported to 40 member clubs about the activities in the various EHF/M bodies.

Volker Zerbe summarized the financial situation.

The board and the General Manager were granted discharge.

In the second part the elections took part.

The following persons were elected as

 

–        Board Members:

Nation 1 (GER): Dierk Schmaeschke, Flensburg

Nation 2 (ESP): Joan Marin, Madrid

Nations 3-6 (FRA, RUS, HUN, SLO): Tomaz Jersic, Celje

Nations 7-12 (DEN, SUI, ROU, CRO, POR, MAK): Soren Colding, Copenhagen/DEN

Nations 13-49 (SWE, BIH, SRB, POL, NOR, AUT …): Bertus Servaas, Kielce/POL

 

–        President

Tomaz Jersic, Celje, SLO

–        Vice-President

Joan Marin, Madrid, ESP

Dierk Schmäschke, Flensburg, GER

 

–        Vice-President Finances

Dierk Schmäschke, Flensburg, GER

 

–        Deputy Board Member

Nation 1 (GER): Sabine Holdorf-Schust, Kiel

Nation 2 (ESP): Xavi O’Callaghan, Barcelona

Nations 3-6 (FRA, RUS, HUN, SLO): Robert Molines, Montpellier

Nations 7-12 (DEN, SUI, ROU, CRO, POR, MAK): Peter Leutwyler, Kadetten/SUI

Nations 13-49 (SWE, BIH, SRB, POL, NOR, AUT …): Karl Löfmark,  Lund/SWE

 

–        FCH representative ‘Professional Handball Board’ (PHB)

Joan Marin, Madrid, ESP

Gerd Butzeck, FCH General Manager

 

–        FCH representative ‘Men’s Club Marketing Board’ (MCMB)

Nation 1 (GER): Christoph Wendt, Hamburg

Nation 2 (ESP): Xavi O’Callaghan, Barcelona

Nations 3-6 (FRA, RUS, HUN, SLO): Tomaz Jersic, Celje, SLO

Nations 7-12 (DEN, SUI, ROU, CRO, POR, MAK): Jens Boesen, Kolding, DEN

Nations 13-49 (SWE, BIH, SRB, POL, NOR, AUT …): Radek Wasiak, Kielce, POL

 

–        Comptroller

Gerd Hofele, Göppingen, GER

 

In the third part the 8th General Assembly after discussion unanimously advised the FCH Board to take all necessary measures to resolve existing issues with IHF.

The 9th General Assembly of FCH will take place on occasion of the Semifinals of the next World Championship in Barcelona/Spain on 26th/27th January 2013. GB

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