GCH took notice of the statement of IHF President Hassan Moustafa regarding the World Selection match in Croatia, published on 12.11.2009 (see text below).

The member clubs of GCH refused to send players to this match, as there was no agreement achieved upon date, insurance and compensation between clubs and federations. In the future according negotiations should be led in due time prior to the event, taking in account the justified interests of the clubs.  

The clubs offered/offer their support to the Croatian Federation in order to find a appropriate date for the match.

GCH acknowledges that the IHF President for the first time expressed his ‘deepest respect towards the strong European Clubs’ which is not in line with earlier statements, made by Hassan Moustafa, for example during the ‘Competitions Conference in Vienna’ in April 2008.

Up to today, IHF repeatedly refused to speak to clubs, arguing that the clubs are no members of the International Handball Federation.

GCH is working on the improvement of the structure of European Handball in close cooperation with EHF and ready to start according negotiations on international level at any time. GB

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 60^th 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 2^nd 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 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