A first meeting between the newly elected board of Women Forum Club Handball and the leadership of EHF will take place on 27th June 2014 prior to the draw of the Championsleagues. Women Forum Club Handball will be represented by President Ernö Kelecsenyi/Györ, Vice-President Gordana Naceva/Vardar Skopje and Kay-Sven Hähner/Leipzig. EHF will be represented by President Jean Brihault and General Secretary Michael Wiederer. The target of the meeting is to define the conditions for future cooperation between EHF and WFCH. GB

Internationale Handball Federation (IHF) President Dr. Hassan Moustafa conveyed his ‘heartfelt congratulations’ to Joan Marin on his election as President Forum Club Handball (FCH).

‘I wish you every success in your tasks and challenges and look forward to cooperating with you for the benefit of the further development of our sport.’

The congratulations were accompanied by an invitation to visit the match of the ‘IHF World Selection’ vs the Egypt National Team in favor of a Cairo Hospital for children with cancer.

Juan Arias, foundation member of Group Club Handball EEIG, died unexpectedly after taking his breakfast in his appartementm last week. The former Handball player  served for his Club as President from 1994 – 2009. During his leadership the Club became Spanish Champion and won the European Cup for Cup Winners. Forum Club Handball expresses its compassion to the family and to the Club.

On 1st June the 12th General Assembly of Forum Club Handball elected a new board. Joan Marin/Spain unanimously was elected as new President, Dierk Schmäschke/Flensburg and Bertus Servaas/Kielce became Vice-Presidents. Further board members are Jens Boesen/Kolding-Copenhagen and Karl Lofmark/Lund.

The elections in detail:

1.  Election Board Member Nation ranked 1 (GER)

Candidate Board member: Dierk Schmäschke/Flensburg

was elected unanimously with one abstention.

2.  Election Board Member Nation ranked 2 (ESP)

Candidate Board member: Joan Marin/proposed by the Board

was elected unanimously with one abstention.

3.  Election Board Member Nations ranked 3-6 (FRA, DEN, SLO, HUN)

DEN Candidate Board member: Jens Boesen/Kolding-Copenhagen

SLO Candidate Board member: Tomaz Jersic/Celje

FRA Candidate Board member: Robert Molines/Montpellier withdrew his candidature before the election and announced that he will be only candidate as deputy board member.

A secret election took place. Jens Boesen was elected as board member.

4.  Election Board Member Nations ranked 7-12 (RUS, SUI, CRO, MKD, POL, BLR)

POL Candidate Board member: Bertus Servaas/Kielce

was elected unanimously with one abstention.

B. Servaas was not present, as he received an important honor in Poland on the same day.

5.  Election Board Member Nations ranked 13-50 (ROU, SWE, POR, NOR, SRB, UKR, GRE, … IRL

SWE Candidate Board member: Karl Lofmark/Lund

GRE Candidate Board member: Stathis Papachartofilis/Doukas Athens

IRL Candidate Board member: Magnus Clarke/Dublin

A secret election took place. Karl Lofmark was elected as board member.

6.  Election Deputy Board Member Nation ranked 1 (GER)

Candidate Dep Board member: Sabine Holdorf-Schust/Kiel was elected unanimously with one abstention.

7.  Election DeputyBoard Member Nation ranked 2 (ESP)

Candidate Dep Board member: Xavier O’Callaghan/Barelona was elected unanimously with one abstention.

8.  Election Deputy Board Member Nations ranked 3-6 (FRA, DEN, SLO, HUN)

SLO Candidate Dep Board member: Tomaz Jersic/Celje withdrew his candidature in favor of Robert Molines.

FRA Candidate Dep Board member: Robert Molines/Montpellier was elected unanimously with one abstention.

9.  Election Deputy Board Member Nations ranked 7-12 (RUS, SUI, CRO, MKD, POL, BLR)

SUI Candiate Dep Candidate Board member: Peter Leutwyler/Kadetten Schaffhausen was elected unanimously with one abstention.

10.         Election Deputy Board Member Nations ranked 13-50 (ROU, SWE, POR, NOR, SRB, UKR, GRE, … IRL

GRE Candidate Board member: Stathis Papachartofilis/Doukas Athens

IRL Candidate Dep Board member: Magnus Clarke/Dublin

Clarke was elected as Deputy Board member in secret election.

Further positions were elected:

FCH treasurer: Dierk Schmäschke/Flensburg

FCH comptroller: Gerd Hofele/Göppingen

FCH member of the EHF Professional Handball Board: Joan Marin/Spain and Gerd Butzeck/FCH

FCH member of the EHF Men’s Club Marketing Board: Xavi O’Callaghan/Barcelona and Sabine Holdorf-Schust/Kiel

FCH member of the EHFM Advisory Board: Nomination delegated to the FCH-Board

Further decisions were taken:

Discharge: The assembly granted discharge to the outgoing board.

Women Forum Club Handball: FCH will cooperate with Women Forum Club Handball. An according agreement will be signed.

Budget: The Budget for the period 1.7.2014 – 30.6.2016 was adopted.

Refereeing: It was proposed to replace the head of the refereeing by an international committee of experts. This shall reduce the pressure on the current head of refereeing and give a better feeling to the participating teams. The proposal was supported by the assembly unanimously. It was decided that an according proposal for EHF shall be prepared.

World selection: The FCH General Assembly decided that in the future FCH member clubs will release players to EHF/IHF Selection matches only, if date, compensation for the clubs and insurance of the player salaries in case of injury are agreed between FCH and EHF/IHF. This decision does not concern the upcoming match of the World Selection in Egypt in favor of a children cancer hospital.

Next Assembly: The next General Assembly will not take place in Qatar. The new board will decide, if and where to organize a FCH General Assembly in January 2015.