The 2nd meeting of the Professional Handball Board (PHB) took place on 9th March 2011 in Vienna. The Vice-President of Forum Club Handball (FCH) (and President of Group Club Handball (GCH)) Joan Marin from BM Renovalia Ciudad Real was elected as chairman of the PHB. The chairman of the PHB has automatically a seat in the Executive Committee of the European Handball Federation (EHF).

From the very beginning of the Club movement it was requested to have a representative in the government of European Handball. After 5 years of work this target has been achieved. Congratulations to all those who contributed to this development! GB

Wednesday 9 March 2011 – Professional Handball Board (Text:EHF)

The Professional Handball Board (PHB) is a common strategic platform for the key stakeholders within European men’s handball. It is made up of representatives of National Federations, Clubs, European Professional Leagues and Players, with two representatives from each stakeholder group making up the Board. The Chairman of the Professional Handball Board also has a seat on the EHF Executive Committee. 
Present at the second meeting of the PHB on Wednesday 9 March were Morten Stig Christensen / DEN and Philippe Bana / FRA representing the National Federations and the Nations Board, Gerd Butzeck / GER and Joan Marin / ESP representing the Clubs through Forum Club Handball and Reiner Witte / GER and Arne Josefsen / DEN representing the Professional Leagues through the European Professional Handball League Association, which held its inaugural meeting at the end of February 2011.

The final group to join the PHB were the Players, represented in an observer status by Marc-Olivier Albertini, a representative of the European Handball Players Union (EHPU). This followed a coordination meeting the day previously between the EHF and EHPU, in which the approval of the Union’s structure and statutes as well as the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding were discussed.

Representing the EHF Executive Committee were EHF Vice President, Jean Brihault, and Jan Tuik. EHF President, Tor Lian, and EHF Secretary General, Michael Wiederer, were also present in the meeting.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

The PHB elected a Chairman, Joan Marin / ESP representing the clubs through the Forum Club Handball. Joan Marin will now join the EHF Executive Committee for the coming period. Reiner Witte / GER representing the professional leagues through the European Professional Handball League Association was elected Vice-Chairman of the PHB.

EHF European Championships

The PHB also discussed proposals for changes to the schedule of future EHF European Championships. From the next Men’s EHF EURO in Serbia in 2012 it is proposed that the first two groups would throw off on Sunday, with the next two on Monday. Semi-finals would be played on Friday, Saturday would become a rest day and finals would be played on Sunday. This new match schedule will contribute to a better periodisation of match and rest days for the teams and players.

After clarification with the 2012 organisers, the Serbian Handball Federation, the approval of the optimised schedule will be put to the next meeting of the Executive Committee in Vienna on 8 / 9 April 2011.

In relation to the future of the EHF European Championships and the EURO product, there was an exchange of information about the development of a TV, media and marketing strategy in order to further optimise the product.

Insurance

The PHB discussed the idea of an overall insurance system for national team players and in particular compensation for the salaries of injured players from a fund. The various options will be evaluated in a workshop in order to create a proposal for the next PHB.

European club competitions

The issue of possible future systems for European Cup and EHF Champions League competitions was raised for the first time. It was agreed that this subject together with the question of playing dates and the overall calendar will be examined in detail through a major study by external specialists of the entire competition system and effects of any changes on the handball market.

Education of handball managers

There was unanimous agreement from those present to introduce an education/further education programme for managers in handball. A concept will be developed by a working group in March in order to present a concept to the EHF Executive Committee.

Additional discussions

The PHB further discussed the issues of communication between stakeholders, the information and decision making process within the EHF structure and also external communications to the handball and media world.

Last but not least the meeting was informed of the outcome of the previous Competitions Commission meeting and the proposals that would be presented to the EHF Executive Committee. There was common agreement that the meeting was conducted in a positive atmosphere.

TEXT: EHF

Yesterday in Basle/Switzerland FORUM CLUB HANDBALL (FCH) held the first official meeting with International Handball Federation (IHF), represented by President Dr. Hassan Moustafa, 1^st Vice-President Miguel Roca, Amal Khalifa and Patrick Strub (Office).

Major topics of professional club handball were discussed.

‘It was a good and open minded meeting. We offer our support to IHF and IHF offers support to the clubs in all aspects of Professional Handball!’ commented FCH-President Tomaz Jersic.  

The FCH representatives, President Jersic/RK Celje and the two Vice-Presidents Marin/BM Ciudad Real  + Schmäschke/HSV Handball, were invited to the upcoming IHF-Congress in Marrakesh. GB

According to internal studies of GCH about 15 injuries have been registered during the WCH in Sweden 2011. For the first time in history the IHF insured the player salaries in favour of the clubs. According to our (not official) information the compensation will be paid starting from the 15th day after the injury and for a maximum period of 3 month. The monthly compensation is limited to a maximum of 15.000 Euros. The compensation will be paid to the Federation where the player has a working contract. Clubs from all continents will benefit from the insurance which has been demanded by GCH since 2006. GB

On the fringes of the 22^nd IHF World Championship, taking place currently in Sweden, the leading clubs of Europe from Gothenburg, Dublin, Hamburg, Istanbul, Minsk, Ciudad Real and others met in Copenhagen to discuss the situation of European Club Handball.

In the first part of the meeting EHF Secretary General M. Wiederer informed about the Professional Handball Board (PHB). EHF Head Competitions M. Glaser explained possible options for changes of the European Cups system.

The meeting participants discussed pros and cons of a merger of EHF Cup and Cup Winners Cup and the possibilities of and experiences with Cross Boarder Competitions.

In the second part of the meeting the relation between clubs and IHF was analysed. For the first time during the presidency of Hassan Moustafa club representatives had official contacts with IHF. IHF established an insurance for injured players in favor of the clubs and pays compensation to clubs, releasing players to the World Championship.

Nevertheless the communication between IHF was not regarded to be sufficient. The board of FCH was advised to establish a structural dialogue with IHF.

The relation between IHF and FCH will be one of the major topics of the next FCH meeting, taking place on 28^th May 2011 in Cologne, Germany. GB

The next ordinary meetings of GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG (GCH) and FORUM CLUB HANDBALL (FCH) will take place on 18/19.1.2011 in Copenhagen Airport. The according invitations were distributed today. Main topics of the meeting will be the future structure of the European Cup and the relation between European Top Clubs and International Handball Federation (IHF). For more details please see our page ‘Forum Club Handball’. GB

The first meeting of the newly established PROFESSIONAL HANDBALL BOARD (PHB) will take place in Vienna (AUT) on 24.11.2010. The representatives of Clubs, National Federations and EHF will define the tasks of the body and a timetable. A chairman – who will represent the PHB inside the EHF Executive Committee – will be elected. 
The club organisation FORUM CLUB HANDBALL (FCH) will be represented by Vice-President Joan Marin/Renovalia Ciudad Real and General Manager Gerd Butzeck. Player and League organisations will join PHB at a later stage. GB

The 15th ordinary General Assembly of GCH will take place in Cap Rocat, Mallorca, Spain on 4.10.2010. The leading clubs of Europe will discuss the results of the first GCH meeting with IHF on 17.9.2010 in Basle and the outcome of the EHF Congress, held last weekend in Basle.

The major topic of the meeting will be the restructuring of the various European Cups in order to adopt the system to the needs of the clubs. The next FCH meeting, taking place in January in Sweden on the fringes of the IHF World Championship, will discuss the ideas of GCH in order to prepare proposals for the new Professional Handball Board (PHB). GB

On 24th September 2010 the 10th ordinary Congress of the European Handball Federation (EHF) approved the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU), signed by EHF President Tor Lian and FCH President Tomaz Jersic on 29.5.2010 in Cologne. The according motion reached a 85% majority. 

The MoU serves as basis for the further cooperation of clubs and federations in professional European handball.

At the same time the Congress implemented the ‘Professional Handball Board’ (PHB) into the statutes of EHF. In the future the PHB shall represent interests of clubs, leagues, players and federations and advise the EHF Executive Committee in all questions regarding professionell handball. GB

Historical moment for GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG – CIRCLE OF THE BEST and FORUM CLUB HANDBALL – HEART OF THE GAME: For the first time during his presidency the President of the International Handball Federation (IHF) Dr. Hassan Moustafa officially invited the presidents of both club organisations Joan Marin (BM Ciudad Real) and Tomaz Jersic (Celje Pivovarna Lasko) to a meeting with the presidents of Europes leading handball nations. The meeting will take place on 17th September 2010 in Basle/Switzerland. On the agenda: ‘Exchange of opinions’, ie ‘Competitions Calendar’ and ‘Appearance Fee’.  GB