During todays draws of the EHF-Cup- and VELUX EHF CL-Quarterfinals the presidents of the European Handball Federation (EHF) Jean Brihault and Forum Club Handball (FCH) Tomaz Jersic prolonged the current MoU (signed in May 2010) until June 2018. The new MoU had been discussed for more than one year during the FCH General Assemblies and in various meetings with the EHF Leadership. ‘We had tough but correct negotiations with FCH’, underlined Jean Brihault. The modified MoU foresees increased fees for release of players to the European Championships and, for the first time, a FCH representation in the EHFM Advisory Board, the decision taking body in the structure of EHFM. ‘This will be the most important for the clubs’, underlined Tomaz Jersic after signing the document. ‘In the future the clubs will sit at the table when the decisions will be taken!’ All details of the MoU will be presented to the FCH General Assembly in Cologne on 1^st June 2014.

The ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) with European Handball Federation (EHF) was the major point on the agenda of the 11^th FCH General Assembly (GA). The 36 Top clubs from 19 countries, among them 21 VELUX EHF Championsleague (CL) representatives and for the first time the manager of an English Club, London HB, discussed the result of the negotiations between the leadership of EHF and FCH. The GA entitled the board of FCH to sign the ‘MoU’ on basis of the presented results.

The GA discussed the possibility to change the VELUX EHF Championsleague (CL) system for season 2014/15. In order to clarify the conditions for the new system it was proposed to execute a possible change as of season 2015/16.

The 12^th GA will take place on occasion of the VELUX EHF Championsleague Final Four in Cologne/GER on 1^st June 2014.

The GA advised the General Manager (GM) to work out project for the 13^th Ordinary General Assembly of FCH to take place on the fringes of the World Championship (WCH) 2015 in Qatar.

18.1.2014 FCH General Assembly supports change of the VELUX EHF Championsleague playing system as of 2015

Basically EHF, Clubs and Leagues agree that the VELUX EHF Championsleague playing system shall be changed. In order to clarify the conditions for the new system, the change shall take place as of season 2015/16. Conditions and the according calendar shall be fixed by EHF in spring 2014 latest.

18.1.2014 FCH General Assembly supports cooperation with Women Top Clubs 

On request of the chairman of the Women’s Club Board (WCB) Kay-Sven Hähner, the General Assembly (GA) disussed a cooperation of the leading Men and Women Clubs. It was decided to work out a project for cooperation until the next GA.

18.1.2014 FCH General Assembly decides on a project for emerging clubs

On request of Doukas Handball Club (Athens, Greece) the General Assembly (GA) discussed the question, how to strengthen handball in emerging countries. The Forum Club Handball (FCH) board proposed that every top club shall take a patronat for one emerging club on a voluntarily basis. The emerging clubs may request a patronat at the FCH office. Together the club and FCH shall determine a program, targets and a timeline. The Top club will be provided by decision of the FCH board.

18.1.2014 FCH General Assembly elects Vice-President Joan Marin to become Honorary Member of FCH

During the 11^th General Assembly (GA) of Forum Club Handball (FCH) Joan Marin unanimously was elected as Honorary member. The current FCH Vice-President served as GROUP CLUB HANDBALL EEIG (GCH) President from 2006 – 2011. During this time he represented the interests of former CL-Winner BM Ciudad Real. As of the formal foundation of FCH, Joan Marin served as Vice-President of FCH (representative of BM Atletico Madrid). In this capacity he became chairman of the Professional Handball Board (PHB) and member of the Executive Committee of the EHF. Although BM Atletico Madrid is no longer existing, FCH confirmed his office until the end of the current period (June 2014).

According to the FCH statutes Honorary members may have an office at FCH.

The second EHF Seminar for Handball Club Manager will take place in Cologne on occasion of the VELUX EHF Final4 from 30.5.13 – 1.6.13. For further information please contact the FCH office (office@forumclubhandball.com) or the EHF directly: hoeritsch@eurohandball.com

According to a statement of the President of Macedonian Handball Federation and SEHA Vice-President, Mihajlo Mihajlovski, Gazprom will sign a sponsorship contract with the SEHA-League on the fringes of the SEHA Final Weekend (13/14.4.13) in Skopje. According to Balkan-Handball.com all necessary questions are agreed. Hungarian and Polish teams show interest to participate in the league. Gazprom intends to spend 1 – 1.5 Mio Euros on the project.

Wie das deutsche Magazin ‚Sponsors‘ am 28.12.12 vermeldete, könnte ein ‚Urteil des schwedischen Kartellgerichts gegen den schwedischen Automobilverband über Skandinavien hinaus Bedeutung erlangen.‘

Der schwedische Automobilverband hatte von ihm lizensierten Fahrern verboten, an konkurrierenden Rennserien teilzunehmen. Damit sah das schwedische Gericht die Entstehung von Wettbewerb verhindert. Es wurde eine Strafe in Höhe von einer Million Schwedischer Kronen (ca 120.000 Euro) verhängt. Grundlage für das schwedische Urteil sind frühere Entscheidungen des EuGH.

Das Urteil könnte Einfluss auf Europäische und Weltsportverbände haben. Diese versuchen über ihre Statuten und Reglemente unliebsame Konkurrenz zu verhindern. So ist zur Zeit im Handball die Teilnahme an multinationalen Wettbewerben genehmigungspflichtig, wenn diese nicht von EHF oder IHF organisiert werden.

Der deutsche Sportjurist Mark E. Orth empfiehlt den Sportverbänden, ihre ‚Regelungen schleunigst anzupassen‘, da künftige richterliche Entscheide deutlich teurer werden könnten.  (Zitate aus Sponsors, 28.12.12)

The European Olympic Committee (EOC) decided to establish European Games (EG) – similar to existing Asian Games or PanAmerican Games. About 13 Olympic and 2 Non Olympic Sports are supposed to participate. Handball and Beach Handball are potential candidates for the first edition which will take place in Baku 2015.

The European Handball Federation (EHF) informed the stakeholders during the last PHB meetings about the ongoing contacts with EOC. Former EHF President Tor Lian was member of a working group.

The board of Forum Club Handball (FCH) consulted on the issue during a conference call today. FCH strictly refuses to increase the number of big competitions from currently 5 (2 World Championships (WCH), 2 European Championships (ECH) and 1 Olympic Games) to 6 competitions. The invention of the EG must lead to a reduction with a maximum number of 4 competitions (1 ECH, 1 WCH, 1 EG and 1 OG) in 4 years. ‘We need to agree a plan with EHF and IHF, how to reduce the total number of competitions’, demanded FCH President Tomaz Jersic ‘Without written consent on a global reduction we can not support Handball in European Games. Additional revenues, generated by the EG, must be in invested in the promotion of our sport. According decisions have to be taken jointly by EHF and Clubs.’

The 41^st General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) decided in Rome on Saturday, 8 December 2012, that the first European Games will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan in June 2015.

Former EHF President Tor Lian was member of a working group, producing a feasibility study for the European Games. The Professional Handball Board (PHB) was informed about the ongoing negotiations.

EHF President Jean Brihault gave a remarkable on the issue (you find the full version on the www.eurohandball.com):

eurohandball.com: What role has the EHF played in the development of the European Games?

Jean Brihault: The EOC has said from the start that it wanted handball to be part of the project, and following a meeting with the leadership of the project in Lausanne, the EHF Secretary General, Michael Wiederer, and I made it clear that the EHF is interested in this new project.

We have also put forward the idea that we include not only indoor handball but also beach handball in the Games. I am pleased to say that this has been positively received by the EOC.

At this stage, based on the agreement of the EHF Executive and the Professional Handball Board (made up of representatives of the national federations, professional leagues, clubs and players) we have signed a letter of intent to say handball is interested in continuing to work with the EOC towards the inclusion of the sport in the Games.

The future inclusion of handball in the Games is as yet by no means certain. We have underlined the fact that that certain criteria and standards need to be met if the sport is to join the programme of the Games.

…
eurohandball.com: What does the European Games mean for the international calendar in the future?

Jean Brihault: Naturally the international calendar is an important consideration, and it is clear – and the message from our various stakeholders is also clear – that a European Games cannot add to the workload of players in the future.

Assuming a first event is a success, we will have to look at how the European Games will fit into handball’s calendar of events.

eurohandball.com: What does the European Games mean for European handball?
…….

We are still in negotiation with the EOC, but I can imagine the event in 2015 being played initially with eight men’s and eight women’s teams in indoor handball and eight men’s and eight women’s teams in beach handball. From the start both the men’s and women’s competitions event must be organised on an equal footing.

On 19^th November 2012 the Professional Handball Board (PHB) discussed the latest developments in the VELUX EHF Championsleague (CL). The FORUM CLUB HANDBALL representatives demanded a joint approach of EHF, National Federations, Leagues and Clubs to work on the improvement of the product CL and the increase of the number of spectators in the arenas. TV ratings have to be improved. The EHF Executive Committee was requested to design individual solutions for the various markets.

During the last weekend the newly elected leadership of EHF and FCH met in Achenkirch/Austria to speak about the future of European Handball. The content of the meeting will be reported to the next FCH General Assembly, taking place in Barcelona on 25^th/26^th January 2013. GB

Denish top team AG Kobenhavn declared bankrupt on 31st July 2012. With the financial support of sponsor Jesper Nielsen AG Kobenhavn became one of the top handball clubs in Europe during the last years, selecting Denish and International top players. Now Nielsen announced that ‘Owners have decided to close the company behind the club’.

This decision might mean that many handball stars are without contract at the beginning of the season. Normally all top clubs have finalized their team rooster in august.

This decision might have consequences for the upcoming VELUX EHF Championsleague (CL) and even the Wild Card Tournament.

Last year Bosnian Sarajevo had financial problems and many players left at the beginning of the season.

Beside Kobenhavn Spanish Reale Ademar Leon faces serious financial problems at the beginning of the season. Leon became third in the previous ASOBAL league and qualified for the upcoming CL season. But almost all top players left the team.

The European Handball Federation Secretary General M. Wiederer acted: ‘We must work on a solution to the general situation in particular concerning the ownership and finances of clubs, especially Champions League club in order to preserve the product. The solution will be a joint effort between the EHF and EHF Marketing.”