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.