Uwe Schwenker, Vice-President and board member of GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG requested to be temporarily represented by his deputy, Fynn Holpert (Flensburg).The request was announced due to various allegations against THW Kiel which are currently investigated by the public prosecutor of Kiel.
The request of Uwe Schwenker shall not be regarded as an acknowledgement of any guilt. GB
GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG offers support to European Handball Federation (EHF) in order to improve the current refereeing system as soon as possible.The following proposals shall be regarded as a basis for discussions:
1. An independent European referee office is responsible for organisation and nomination of referees and delegates (further on referees).
2. Every country has at least one referee official. He is taking care of the referees on behalf of the European referee office. He might issue invitations for visas, recommend or book hotel, and/or pick up referees at the airport, if necessary. He is not linked to clubs or national federations. He has to report to the referee office.
3. Travelling is organized by referees and European referee office. Clubs are not involved at all. There is no common dinner, meeting or similar before and after the match.
4. Referees are not allowed to have any contacts with clubs or club representatives. If a referee is contacted by a club – for whatsoever reason – he has to report it immediately to the European referee office. This will be controlled by the European referee office.
5. The clubs are not allowed to contact referees. Referees have to report about any contacts with clubs.
6. Refereeing has to be totally independent and separated from the European Handball Federation (EHF) office.
The responsibility for nominations is exclusively with the European referee office. No handball politicians or tournament management should be able to take influence.
7. The position of the Delegate shall be upgraded. He should be fully responsible for the bench.
8. The performance of delegates shall be judged by the referees. The performance of the referees shall be judged by delegates and coaches. A detailed control system with responsibilities for coaches, delegates and referees should to be established.
9. It has to be discussed whether it is necessary to referee in couples from one country. It might be a possible to nominate every time various referees from various countries for one match.
10. The delegates should be specialists which means that they should be former or active referees. Delegates should not be nominated due to political reasons.
The current statement has to be seen in relation with the rumours about bribery in Handball. GCH insists that Kiel and Lemme/Ulrich have to be regarded as innocent as long as no relevant proves have been forwarded.
At the same GCH encourages all competent bodies to clarify the correctness of the current allegations which jeopardize the future of Handball.
European Handball Federation (EHF) and GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG should closely co-operate in the spirit of fairness to optimize transparently the refereeing system and adopt it to the necessities of modern handball.
GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG* asks for detailed explanations of Hassan Moustafa, President of the International Handball Federation (IHF).
On occasion of it’s 10th ordinary meeting, held on 2nd February 2009 in Zagreb, GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG (GCH) dealt with a number of irregularities within the International Handball Federation (IHF), having been provoked by it’s President Hassan Moustafa.
GCH discussed in detail the following issues which have brought this sport in serious disrepute:
Travel expenses compensation scandal
The President of the IHF, Hassan Moustafa, received more than 500.000 CHF from International Handball Federation (IHF) for compensation of travel expenses without forwarding any receipts.
Egyptian Doping affair during the Pre-Olympic Tournament in Athens
The Egyptian team played with half of their players only whilst the other half of the squad was sitting on the tribune; the Egyptian Federation and their President Hassan Moustafa complained about the fact that they had not been informed about the scheduled Doping controls prior to the tournament.
Payments around the Egyptian World Championship 1999
According to a report of the German Spiegel-online magazine, dated 31.1.09, 695.420,98 USD were not received by the Egyptian Federation until 1.9.2003, but deposited on an account at Credit Mutual bank in Strasbourg.
The authority to sign for this account was with Hassan Moustafa.
Wada Code/Holdhaus resignation affair
Due to various statements of Prof. Hans Holdhaus, former Chairman of the Anti-Doping-Unit of the International Handball Federation (IHF), Hassan Moustafa cut the anti doping budget of the medical commission and requested to be informed about doping controls upfront. The independent anti-doping unit was dissolved. This endangers the status of handball as Olympic sport.
Toyota Olympic Qualification affair
For the first time in history an Olympic qualification tournament had to be re-played, as the Jordanian Referees had obviously been cheating (CAS, case 2008 O 1483). The German referees Lemme/Ulrich initially nominated by the International Handball Federation (IHF) were withdrawn by IHF President Hassan Moustafa.
Despite these facts the Council of the International Handball Federation (IHF) decided unanimously to invite Peter Muhlematter to resign as General Secretary during the IHF council meeting in Zagreb, on 31st January 2009.
After careful examination of the above issues, GCH unanimously came to the conclusion that IHF President Hassan Moustafa (and not Peter Muhlematter), by his irresponsible conduct, is causing serious damage to international Handball and herewith puts in danger the status of Handball as an Olympic sport.
As a result, GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG asks Hassan Moustafa as President of the International Handball Federation (IHF) for detailed explanations and invites all governing bodies in handball to put their efforts in restoring order and respect for the rules and fair spirit of the game.
* ‘GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG – Circle of the Best’ is an European Economic Interest Group, representing the interests of the following clubs:
FC Barcelona (ESP), Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO), Chehovskie Medvedi (RUS), BM Ciudad Real (ESP), SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER), HSV Hamburg (GER), THW Kiel (GER), KIF Kolding Elite A/S (DEN), TBV Lemgo (GER), Reale Ademar Leon (ESP), SC Magdeburg (GER), Montpellier HB (FRA), Portland San Antonio (ESP), Pevafersa Valladolid (ESP), MKB Veszprém KC (HUN), HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb (CRO).
The 10th ordinary assembly of ‘GROUP CLUB HANDBALL – Circle of the Best’ (GCH) took place on 2.2.2009 in Zagreb/Croatia.
GCH is concerned about the proceedings around International Handball Federation (IHF) which seriously damage the image of handball. The clubs advised the president of GCH, Joan Marin, to contact the President of the European Handball Federation (EHF), Mr. Tor Lian, in order to receive more information.
GCH is also concerned about the policy of International Handball Federation (IHF), not to paid any compensation for injured players. The players Nikcevic/San Antonio/ESP and Kraus/Lemgo/GER are seriously injured and will not be able to play for their clubs in the next months. This will have direct influence on the tables of Spain and Germany.
GCH decided to take action against the policy of International Handball Federation (IHF).
GCH decided enlarge to 24 teams. The teams of
DEN: FCK Handbold A/S
ESP: CAI BM Aragon Zaragoza
FRA: Chambery Savoie HB
GER: Rhein-Neckar-Lions
HUN: Pick Szeged
SLO: RK Gorenje Velenje
SUI: Kadetten Handball Schaffhausen
SWE: Hammarby
are invited to join the grouping.
The clubs were elected in autumn 2007 according to the EC ranking for season 2007/2008.
On 3rd November 2008 GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG met in Mallorca in order to discuss the results of the last congress of the European Handball Federation (EHF) which took place on 26th of September in Vienna and the council meeting of the International Handball Federation (IHF) which took place on 17th October in Herzogenaurach/GER.
The EHF congress decided to pay compensation to the clubs for the release of players to the European Championships in the amount of 10% of profit of the Euro (but minimum EUR 400.000).
The EHF congress elected Joan Marin (Ciudad Real) as Chairman of the new Club Committee.
As chairman of this committee J. Marin will be a member of the EHF competitions commission.
The EHF congress established a working group which shall make proposals regarding the question when (January or May) European Championships. J. Marin will be member of this group.
The IHF council meeting did not take any decisions regarding the issues which are of interests for the clubs, such as
– insurance of player salaries
– compensation to the clubs for the release of players
– reduction of the number of Championships
– World Championships to be played in May
IHF continues to refuse to negotiate any questions with the clubs.
Taking in account the above mentioned results the assembly decided unanimously
1. to intensify negotiations with EHF and IHF on formal and informal level in order to achieve
– a reduction from 5 Championships in 4 years
(2 World Championships, 2 European Championships + Olympic Games) to 3 Championships in 4 years
– to limit the number of national team days to a maximum per year
– to move the World- and European Championships from January to the end of May
– an insurance of the player salaries whilst the players are working for their national teams
– compensation for the release of players to the national teams
2. to intensify preparations for ‘Euroleague Handball’.
The clubs want to be prepared if the negotiations with IHF/EHF remain without satisfactory result.