On 1.4.2009 GCH lodged a complaint against EHF/IHF, challenging the monopoly of the International federations. During the 13th ordinary General Assembly GCH discussed the possibility to split the complaint in two parts: one against IHF and one against EHF.

Since April 2009 GCH is in concrete negotiations with EHF, regarding the change of the structure of European Handball and the involvement of the various stakeholders (clubs, players, leagues) in the decision taking process concerning professional handball issues. The next meeting between GCH and EHF delegations will take place on 11.2.10 in Vienna. A draft of a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (to be presented to the next ordinary EHF Congress) will be discussed.

Splitting the complaint, GCH would be able to suspend the complaint against EHF temporarily.  

At the same time IHF continues to refuse any communication with GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG, a representation of 19 European Top Clubs.  GB

Please find the following press information on the IHF-Homepage:

Historical moment for Handball

2010-01-29

On the fringes of the 9th Men’s European Championship in Austria a high potential working group met in Vienna on 28 January.

On initiative of the IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa, representatives from the IHF, from the continental federations, national federations and, for the first time in handball history, representatives from four top clubs, met to discuss the future calendar of international handball and the involvement of the stakeholders into international handball in general. Specifically, proposals for an implementation of a releasing fee, an increase of the prize money and for a launching of an appearance fee were discussed. The members of this group of experts agreed basically on the following points:

1.    Coordination of the international competition calendar
2.    Launching of a releasing fee system
3.    Launching of an insurance system for players during the World Championship

The meeting participants supported the steps of the European Handball Federation to create a Professional Handball Board, integrating the current stakeholders, National Federations, Clubs, National Leagues, and Athletes, permanently dealing with issues regarding professional handball in Europe.

The International Handball Federation basically supports the idea of building a forum of expert’s representing the professional handball and is always open to the problems the members of the handball family might have, but not for subgroups who are not affiliated to the IHF.

The experts who met today created the following working group which will work out the details of the individual points:

•    Sandi Sola (Representative IHF)
•    Dr Mansourou A. Aremou (Representative of continental federations)
•    Alexander Toncourt (Representative EHF)
•    Ulrich Strombach (Representative of national federations)
•    Patrice Canayer (Montpellier HB, General Manager)

The results of the elaboration of this Working Group will be presented and discussed on the fringes of the Final Four of the EHF Men’s Champions League on 29/30 May 2010.

The meeting was held in an open and positive atmosphere and the participants emphasized their interest in the development of the sport handball on all fields.

The Super Globe, the official World Championship for Club Teams, will take place in Quatar for the next 4 years. According contracts were signed by IHF President Hassan Moustafa during the last weekend.

This year the tournament will take place from 17.-21. May 2010, 8 days before the EHF Championsleague final. IHF spreads this information via own Homepage.

The clubs were not at all involved in the decision taking process.  GB

For the first time in history the EHF will pay compensation to Clubs for the release of players to the national teams. Due to a statement of Secretary General M. Wiederer the Executive Committee will be requested to take an according decision next Friday.

Although the amount (400.000 Euros) is not the result of negotiations between EHF and Clubs, GCH welcomes the decision and regards it to be a step in the right direction. The commitment was made by EHF during the negotiations of EHF and GCH.  GB

On 18th January 2010 one of the most successful handball clubs in the world, the 8 times Women Championsleague Winner Hypo NiederÖsterreich from Vienna/Austria (Hypo NÖ) lodged a complaint at Vienna Court, challenging the monopoly of IHF/EHF and § 20 – 23 of the IHF Transferregulations. The club indicates that IHF/EHF have no legal basis to oblige the club to release players to various National Teams. 

Hypo NÖ complains about the fact that the National and International Federations do not pay any compensation to the club. At the same time the club is obliged to insure the player salaries against injury on the Clubs account, whilst the players are working and earning money as employees for the various Federations.

The complaint is split into two parts, one refering to players to be released to the Austrian National Team and the second refering to players to be released to other countries (ie France, Brazil, Norway).

As a consequence Hypo NÖ demands to be exempted from the obligation to release players to the various national teams or at least to receive an appropriate compensation.

The club intends to inform the international press during the final weekend of the EHF Euro 2010 in Vienna about the complaint in detail. GB

Am 18.1.2010 hat der 8-malige Frauen Championsleague Sieger Hypo NiederÖsterreich (Hypo NÖ) Klage beim ‘Landesgericht für Zivilsachen Wien’ eingelegt und das Monopol von IHF/EHF angegriffen, sowie die Internationale Transferbestimmungen § 20 – 23 in Frage gestellt.

Die Klage ist zweigeteilt und bezieht sich einmal auf Österreichische und einmal auf Nicht-Österreichische Spielerinnen. Hypo NÖ beklagt, dass der Österreichische Verband, dritte nationale Verbände, die EHF und die IHF Erträge generieren, indem sie auf Clubspieler zurückgreifen. Der Club trägt das Verletzungsrisiko und ist zudem verpflichtet die Spieler auf eigenen Kosten gegen Verletzung zu versichern, ohne hierfür eine Entschädigung zu erhalten.      

Hypo NÖ beantragt bei Gericht festzustellen, dass der Klub nicht verpflichtet ist, Spielerinnen auf Anweisung der Vebände zur Nationalmannschaft abzustellen.

Ersatzweise wird das Gericht aufgefordert, die Verbände auf Zahlung einer Abstellungsentschädigung zu verurteilen.

Eine ähnliche Beschwerde hatte die GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG am 1.4.2010 bei der Europäischen Kommission in Brüssel eingereicht.

Am kommenden Wochenende will der Club im Rahmen des Finalwochenendes der EURO 2010 die Öffentlichkeit im Rahmen einer Pressekonferenz über die Einzelheiten der Klage informieren.  GB

On  January 8th 2010 the IHF for the first time during the presidency of Hassan Moustafa invited Club representatives to a working group on Calendar issues. On this occasion GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG sent a letter to the IHF-President. Please find the letter below:

Dear Mr. President,

For the first time during your presidency (beside an unofficial meeting with former GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG (GCH) Vice President U. Schwenker in December 2008) you scheduled a working group meeting with the participation of club representatives.

As you know the European Handball Federation (EHF) is in permanent contact with GCH in order to find solutions for the most urgent topics in European Handball.

GCH appreciates very much that you obviously intend to involve the clubs in decision making process of the International Handball Federation (IHF).

In order to avoid misunderstandings we would like to clarify that the invited Clubs possibly will express their personal opinion – but they will have no mandate to speak on behalf of the clubs in general or on behalf of GCH in particular.

As you are obviously willing to listen to clubs, we would like to inform you about the general position of the European Top Clubs as follows:

Priority requests of major European Handball Clubs (GCH) vis-à-vis EHF/IHF

1. Clubs must be an accepted element of the European/International handball policy making environment and must therefore be integrated in the EHF/IHF decision making body (=> seat(s) in EHF/IHF (Executive Committee)

2. Appropriate direct representation has to be given to the major European Clubs (GCH) who are the principal wealth creators in handball and eventually represent the principal attraction for the financial backers of the game

3. Clubs competing regularly at international level and whose players are regularly called upon for playing with their national team must be directly involved in the elaboration and approval of a harmonized international calendar

4. Clubs competing regularly at international level and whose players are regularly called upon for playing with their national team must be directly involved in the elaboration of all major competition formats (including national team/competitions, since these competitions require the presence participation of a majority of players employed by said clubs)

5. Clubs competing regularly at international level must be involved directly in the elaboration and approval of International club competition regulations, both on continental and World level.

6. Whenever participating clubs are co-owners of the rights deriving from an international club competition (i.e. EHF Champions League), all aspects outside the field of exclusive competence of a regulatory body (EHF/IHF), in particular commercial and organizational aspects have to be managed by a mixed body composed of the clubs concerned and the organizer (EHF/IHF).

7. A reasonable share of the revenue generated by major final tournaments of A-national teams (European Championship, etc) must be distributed to the clubs who release players for these tournaments (à “players’ release compensation”)

8. Insurance cover for players injured on the occasion of national team duty (not limited to final tournaments) must be assumed out of a central pool, fed from revenue generated by national team competitions (-> centrally marketed final rounds)

This document was confirmed by all GCH member clubs during a General Assembly in January 2007.

In particular the GCH-member clubs are – like the big majority of Handball fans all over Europe – in favor of 3 big Championships (1 Continental Championship, 1 World Championship and Olympic Games) instead of currently 5 (2 Continental Championships, 2 World Championships and 1 Olympic Games) within one Olympic Cycle (4 years).

If this should not be possible due to financial needs of the various federations, we demand at least a reduction from 5 to 4 Championships. In this case the Continental Federations and the World Federations should have 2 events each within one Olympic Cycle, ending up with 2 continental Championships, 1 World Championship and 1 Olympic Games.

These championships should be played – like in Football, Basketball, Volleyball and Icehockey – between the end and the start of the season.

GCH member clubs unanimously prefer the European and the World Championships to be played in the period after the end of the Club Season – which means end of May/beginning of June.

The Olympic Qualification Tournament should be abolished.

The participants of the Olympic Games should be determined on the basis of the results of the last World- and Continental Championships.

The World Championship Qualification should be played with the Play-Off System – as in the past.

Dear Mr. President, of course it is a good idea to discuss the Calendar question in a mixed body. You invited Continental representatives, Federation representatives and Club representatives although the clubs which are present during your meeting are not entitled to confirm any draft of a calendar for the next years. But they are willing to listen to your arguments.

GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG will discuss the statements of the working group during their meeting on 31st January in Vienna where you or anyone you designate from your organization will always be welcome.

We understand that the nominated working group can’t take any decisions. All decisions should be taken by mixed bodies, including (as in football/UEFA) the opinion of all stakeholders namely players, leagues, clubs and federations. Hopefully the European Commission will give us some advice in this respect.

We kindly ask you to consider the opinion of GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG during your meeting on 28.1.2010 in Vienna.

In Football the clubs and the federations reached an agreement on the most important issues in January 2008. We should work in the same direction.

With kind regards

GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG

Joan Marin/President

The 12^th 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 20^th 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 2^nd 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 European Commission passed the complaint of GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG to European Handball Federation (EHF) and International Handball Federation (IHF) and requested their factual and legal comments.

This move of the EC is very encouraging for GCH since the European Commission will only decide to open an investigation, like it does in case, if it considers that prima facie the complaint raises relevant issues and potential violations of EC antitrust law. GB

Die Europäische Kommission hat die Beschwerde der GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG an die Europäische und an die Internationale Handball Föderation weitergeleitet und um Kommentare zu den genannten Fakten und Inhalten gebeten.

Dieser Schritt der Europäischen Kommission ist positiv für die GCH, da die Kommission nur die Eröffnung eines Verfahrens beschliesst, wenn Sie die in der Beschwerde enthaltenen Punkte als potentielle Verletzungen der geltenden Anti-Monopol Gesetze ansieht.

BRUXELLES (AP) – Les plus grands clubs européens de handball ont décidé de s’attaquer frontalement aux fédérations internationale et européenne qui les chapeautent par une plainte déposée mercredi devant la commission européenne. Ils menacent aussi de créer une super ligue dissidente.

Le GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG (GCH), qui rassemble depuis 2006 les 16 meilleurs clubs européens dont Montpellier, conteste le calendrier et la mise à disposition des joueurs aux équipes nationales sur de longues périodes sans compensation ni assurance, selon la plainte officielle déposée auprès de l’UE et que s’est procurée l’Associated Press.

Si aucun accord n’est trouvé à brève échéance, ces clubs menacent de créer leur propre version de la Ligue des champions, peut-être même dès l’année prochaine, a annoncé Gerd Butzeck, le manager général du GCH.
Pour augmenter la pression sur les instances internationales, le GROUP CLUB HANDBALL conteste dans sa plainte le contrôle de la Fédération internationale de handball et de la Fédération européenne de handball sur les clubs et les compétitions des équipes.

C’est la première fois que la commission exécutive de l’UE est saisie d’une plainte antitrust d’une telle ampleur concernant la direction d’un sport. Selon les conclusions qui en résulteront, de nouvelles règles concernant le mode de fonctionnement des compétitions internationales pourraient voir le jour. Par le passé, l’UE a pesé dans la contrainte imposée au football de changer ses règles concernant les transferts et le nombre limite de joueurs étrangers.

Dans sa plainte de 40 pages, le GROUP CLUB HANDBALL dénonce “la contrainte excessive demandée aux clubs et les conditions non équitables de la libération des joueurs” au profit des équipes nationales, qui peut atteindre plus de 100 jours par an.

Le GCH dénonce encore “la détermination unilatérale du calendrier” qui selon lui monopolise les semaines d’exposition les plus favorables au bénéfice des équipes nationales et au détriment des clubs.

Spécifiquement, le GCH se plaint que les mois où le football entre en trêve hivernale, le handball utilise ces dates pour les épreuves des équipes nationales comme les championnats du monde en Croatie en janvier, ce qui pénalise les clubs.

“C’est comme si en tant que vendeur de glaces ont vous interdisait de pratiquer votre commerce l’été”, a commenté Butzeck dans une interview.

Me Jean-Louis Dupont, l’avocat du GCH, a indiqué que son client voulait obtenir “une clarté juridique” afin de négocier une meilleure représentation des clubs dans le monde du handball.

“Les clubs considèrent qu’ils ont juridiquement le droit de gérer eux-mêmes leurs compétitions internationales” et veulent limiter le pouvoir des fédérations internationale et européenne à la gestion des problèmes comme l’arbitrage et à celle des problèmes disciplinaires.

Les Fédérations internationale et européenne n’ont pas immédiatement répondu à des demandes de réaction après le procès intenté par les clubs à leur encontre.

Cependant, le comité exécutif de la Fédération européenne de handball a fait savoir dans un communiqué récent qu’en Europe, les “principes des questions d’assurance et de compensations financières” avaient été approuvés et seraient discutés prochainement. Il a aussi ajouté que des changements au calendrier européen pour janvier n’étaient “pas prévus pour l’heure”.

Le handball, sport olympique depuis 1972, connaît une forte augmentation de sa popularité depuis une décennie.

Il y a trois millions de joueurs licenciés en Europe et les clubs les plus huppés peuvent accueillir 20.000 personnes dans les championnats les plus courus comme l’Allemagne, l’Espagne et la France.

Le GCH envisage d’admettre prochainement huit nouveaux membres à son groupe pour élargir à 24 le nombre de clubs qui le composent. Actuellement, il rassemble cinq clubs allemands et cinq espagnols, plus un russe, un danois, un hongrois, un croate, un slovène et un français. AP