The German Handball Federation (DHB) announced the candidacy of Gerd Butzeck for the position as IHF President on 5th April 2025.
The IHF elections will take place in Cairo/Egypt on 20th December 2025. Butzeck will be temporarily suspended from his duties as Managing Director FCH and for the period from 20th Sept till 20th December 2025.
FCH announced the call for nomination today. The period for nomination of FCH Board members closes on 18th May 2025. For details go to WOMEN FORUM CLUB HANDBALL and then WOMEN Next General Assembly.
During the last ordinary FCH Board meeting, taking place in Spain 7th/8th October 2024, the FCH Boards (men and women) decided to put the support for US Team Handball on hold.
FCH does not agree to the circumstances, surrounding the resignation of the USTH Managing Director Martin Branick and the decision to appoint Michael King as his successor.
FCH informed the International Handball Federation accordingly.
On 7./8th October the boards of Men’s Forum and Women’s Forum met fot the annual Board meeting in Spain. The cooperation with agency partner INFRONT was discussed.
The club representatives decided to prepare properly for the upcoming EHF Competition Conferences in spring 2025.
On the fringes of the meeting Gregor Planteu was selected as successor of FCH Managing Director Gerd Butzeck. Planteu is scheduled to start working in July 2025.
The European Handball Agents Association (EHAA) and FCH signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the beginning of the 30th General Assembly of FCH, celebrated in Cologne on the fringes of the EHF TRUCKSCOUT24 Champions League F4 on 9th June 2024.
The MoU underlines that the IHF Regulations on transfers have to be applied. In particular FCH member clubs shall operate with licensed agents only. The agents agreed to charge their clients which are usually the players (but may also be the clubs).
On the picture from left to the right: Women FCH President Zolt Ákos Jeney, Men FCH President Xavier O’Callaghan, EHAA President Marko Boskovic, EHAA Chairman of the Board Andrej Golic, FCH Managing Director Gerd Butzeck.
For the first time ever Forum Club Handball will celebrate a General Assembly with participants from 5 continents. The fist non-European club to enter FCH was ‘The worlds Handball club New York City’ (America), followed by Detroit, Zeekstar Tokyo (Asia), CalHeats San Francisco, University Sydney (Australia). For the first time ever an African Club will join the meeting: Famous SC Zamalek from Egypt will be confirmed as new member during the meeting on 9th June in Cologne.
The first ever Australian team becomes member of Forum Club Handball. The multiple participant of the IHF Super Globe SYDNEY UNI HANDBALL signed the membership documents and was accepted by the FCH Board.
Accordingly at the moment FCH has members from America, Asia, Australia and Europe. Further expansion to Africa is to be expected.
Forum Club Handball is an organization, representing the interests of European Top Handball clubs vis-a-vis European Handball Federation EHF, International Handball Federation IHF, European Union and others.
FCH is registered as an NPO (registered club, eingetragener Verein) in Cologne/Germany. Potentially the office can be everywhere in Europe.
The Managing Director of Forum Club Handball organizes the meetings and is the first contact person for member clubs, EHF and IHF. The ideal candidate should have a strong Handball background/network, good knowledge of English and Microsoft Office.
The new FCH Managing Director has to coordinate and balance the interests of the various stakeholders in Handball. He will be appointed in October 2024 and start working in June 2025.
Short-form applications with CV shall be addressed to office@forumclubhandball.com until 1st of May 2024.
On invitation of FCH the leadership of FCH and EHF will meet on 9th October 2023. EHF will be represented by President M. Wiederer, the 2 Vice-President P. Boskovic and H. La Cour, Secretary General M. Hausleitner, CSO M. Glaser and CFO B. Binder. EHFM will be represented by Managing Director D. Szlezak and his Deputy N. Kernmayer.
All Board members (men and women) of FCH will be present.
The major topic of the meeting will be the long-term cooperation with agency partner INFRONT and the future alignment of the European Cup competitions.
The FCH Board confirmed the membership of Detroit HC during its ordinary Boardmeeting in October 2022. Accordingly Detroit HC became the second ‘non-European’ member club of FCH! Heartily welcome, Joe Williams!
FCH intends to add further clubs from Africa, North- and South America, Asia and Australia to the organization in the future. The membership is free of charge.