IHF Webpage, 12.11.09: The „World Selection”, concept is not to make any profit, but to show our respect to all players, to support them and to show our compliments to all National Federations by celebrating with them a special event as for example the 60th anniversary of the Croatian Handball Federation. The World Selection participated during the past in several events which were very successful and the whole world knew about these matches where the best players from different countries are selected by the IHF.
Nevertheless the G-14 (Group Club Handball) denied sending its players to this special event. Primarily I feel sorry for the Croatian Handball Federation, the organizer of the event as they will celebrate their federation anniversary. The world selection is consisting of thirty players, outside G-14 all players confirmed their participation and the IHF was ready to play the match.
But after receiving a phone call from the President of the Croatian Handball Federation who asked to postpone the match of the World Selection, the IHF decided to comply with this request. The President of Croatian Handball Federation confirmed also this wish by letter (copy attached). It is worth to mention that in addition to the World Selection match in Croatia, the IHF already received a request from the Royal Spanish Handball Federation for a next World Selection to be played in Spain in June 2010.
Despite my deepest respect towards the strong European Clubs, the World Selection has to be represented, as in former times, by players from all continents.
The IHF is wishing for promoting handball and enhance relationship among handball family.
Sieben Klubs der GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG werden keine Spieler zur Weltauswahl entsenden, die am 2.12.09 in Zagreb auf die Kroatische Nationalmannschaft treffen soll.
Die Internationale Handball Federation (IHF) hatte das Spiel aus Anlass des 60-jährigen Bestehens des Kroatischen Verbandes angesetzt, ohne mit den betroffenen Klubs
BM Ciudad Real – Sterbik+Enterrios (GCH Member Club)
SG Flensburg – Knudsen+Christiansen (GCH Member Club)
HSV Hamburg – Gille+Lijevski+Lindbergh+Bitter (GCH Member Club)
Kadetten Handball – Filip (GCH Member Club)
THW Kiel – Omeyer+Narcisse+Jicha+Ahlm (GCH Member Club)
TBV Lemgo – Kraus (GCH Member Club)
HB Montpellier – Karabatic+Kavticnik+Gigou+Hmam (GCH Member Club)
Rhein-Neckar-Löwen – Stefansson+Sigurdsson (GCH Member Club)
über das Datum, die Versicherungsmodalitäten oder eine Abstellungsentschädigung zu sprechen.
Heute haben die Klubs die IHF und den Kroatischen Verband darüber informiert, dass sie keine Spieler für das Spiel abstellen. Wichtige Spiele der nationalen Ligen finden in zeitlicher Nähe zu dem geplanten Termin statt.
Die Klubs ziehen außerdem in Erwägung, künftig keine Spieler mehr zu IHF-Events abzustellen, wenn über die genannten Punkte nicht rechtzeitig eine Einigung zwischen Klubs und Weltverband erzielt wurde. Auch hierüber wurde die IHF schriftlich informiert. GB
IHF: Seven GCH Member Clubs refuse to release players to a match of the World Selection
The International Handball Federation (IHF) scheduled a match on occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Croatian Handball Federation between the Croatian National Team and a World Selection on 2nd December 2009 in Zagreb.
The date, the insurance of the player salaries in favour of the clubs in case of injury and the compensation to the clubs for release of players was not agreed between the concerned clubs
BM Ciudad Real – Sterbik+Enterrios (GCH Member Club)
SG Flensburg – Knudsen+Christiansen (GCH Member Club)
HSV Hamburg – Gille+Lijevski+Lindbergh+Bitter (GCH Member Club)
Kadetten Handball – Filip (GCH Member Club)
THW Kiel – Omeyer+Narcisse+Jicha+Ahlm (GCH Member Club)
TBV Lemgo – Kraus (GCH Member Club)
HB Montpellier – Karabatic+Kavticnik+Gigou+Hmam (GCH Member Club)
Rhein-Neckar-Lions – Stefansson+Sigurdsson (GCH Member Club)
and IHF prior to the event.
Today the clubs informed IHF and the Croatian Federation that they will not release the players to the match. Important matches of the national leagues in Germany, France and Switzerland are scheduled close to 2nd of December.
The clubs added that they consider not to release any players to IHF events in the future, if the mentioned points are not agreed prior to the event between clubs and IHF. GB
The 12th 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 20th 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 2nd 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
The next General Assembly of GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG will take place in Madrid/ESP on 2nd November 2009.
The assembly will study the results of the EHF Presidents Conference, taking place in Limassol/Cyprus one week earlier and the results of the negotiations, achieved between the leadership of EHF and GCH during the last weeks.
GCH Chairman Joan Marin/BM Ciudad Real finishes his first presidency. He is proposed for re-election.
Dusseldorf, 5.10.2009 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
GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG celebrated the 11th ordinary meeting in Germany on 22.06.09. The Group met on invitation of Anschutz-Entertainment Group in O2-World Arena/Berlin which hosted successfully three matches of the TOYOTA Handball Bundesliga and the Euroleague Basketball Final Four tournament during the last season.
Elections New Board Members
As Uwe Schwenker (Kiel) resigned from his position as Vice-President earlier this year and the contract of Fynn Holpert (Flensburg) expires in Flensburg, a new Vice-President and a new deputy Vice-President had to be elected.
The assembly unanimously elected Volker Zerbe (TBV Lemgo) as Vice-President and Dierk Schmaeschke (HSV Hamburg) as Deputy Vice-President. Congratulations!
Complaint with European Commission
Jean-Louis Dupont, Belgian lawyer and expert on sport law, explained details about the complaint, lodged with the European Commission.
EHF
The clubs discussed and accepted the offer of EHF President Tor Lian to start a discussion regarding structural changes inside EHF. A number of targets was discussed in detail. Results are expected for the next EHF Congress.
New members
The assembly decided to enlarge the number of member clubs to have a broader basis for the upcoming challenges.
GCH invited Rhein-Neckar Lions/GER, KS Vive Targi Kielce and Kadetten Handball/SUI to become new members.
Rhein-Neckar Lions finished a successful season with a third place in the German Championship and participation in the semi-final of the Champions League.
KS Vive Kielce is the leading club in Poland, who tries to transfer the success from the National Team to club level.
During the last years Kadetten Handball from Switzerland has developed step by step to European level, finishing permanently in the top of Swiss league and the final rounds of the European Cups.
Hardly welcome to all three clubs!
Dusseldorf, 22.6.09
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