The Executive Committee of the European Handball Federation met on Friday 8 April and Saturday 9 April 2011 at the Federation’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
Joining the Executive Committee for his first meeting was Chairman of the Professional Handball Board (PHB), Joan Marin (ESP), who was elected to his position within the PHB in March 2011. His addition to the EHF Executive Committee brings the number of members to ten.
The Committee dealt with a full agenda in addition to the awarding of the Women’s EHF EURO 2014, the draw for the organisation right of the first round of the Women’s EHF EURO 2012 Qualification and the draw for the Women’s 17 EHF EURO, to be played in the Czech Republic between 23 June and 03 July 2011.
The Executive Committee approved the accounts of the 2009/2010 financial year following checks from external auditors and the EHF Comptrollers. It also reached a number of important decisions, dealing with the minutes, reports and recommendations of the EHF Technical Delegation, EHF Commissions, Nations Board and the Professional Handball Board.
11th Extraordinary Congress in Cologne
The 11th Extraordinary Congress, which will take place in Cologne, Germany during the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in May 2011 and the motions before the Congress were discussed and approved. Documents will be issued according to the statutes on 29 April 2011. The list of candidates for the election to the legal bodies of the EHF was approved.
New men’s European Cup competition
The EHF Executive approved the merging of the men’s EHF Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup from the season 2012/2013.
See separate report.
EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia extended by two days
It was agreed that the Men’s EHF EURO in Serbia in January 2012 will be played over two additional days, with the event starting on Sunday and an extra rest day introduced on the Saturday of the final weekend.
See separate report.
Champions Trophies
The cancellation of the Men’s and Women’s Champions Trophies until further notice and the withdrawal of the events from the EHF calendar was approved.
Player eligibility
The issue of player eligibility in European Cup competitions was discussed, and following a proposal from the Competitions Commission, it was decided that the competition regulations would be amended in such a way that players would only be permitted to play for one club or team in European club competitions.
16 players in all EHF competitions
The number of players allowed per match in all competitions was clarified and clubs will now be permitted to field 16 players in all EHF competitions from the start of the 2011/2012 season.
EHF Champions League qualification format
A proposal from the Competitions Commission to change the format of the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League and EHF Women’s Champions League qualification tournaments and “Wild Card” tournament was approved. From the coming season these events will be played in a final four format, with two semi-finals on one day and two finals on the next.
EHF Women’s Champions League
The further qualification of teams from the EHF Women’s Champions League qualification phase was discussed and agreed that those teams eliminated from these rounds will now go forward to Women’s Cup Winners’ Cup instead of the EHF Cup.
EHF Champions League floors to be introduced
Following the success of the introduction of the “lagoon and blue” playing floor from Gerflor into the VELUX EHF Champions League from the 2006/2007 season, and following positive feedback from the Women’s Champions League Workshop and Women’s Club Board, it was decided that the distinctive floor would be introduced to all clubs playing in the EHF Women’s Champions League from the coming season. The initiative is seen as a positive development of the competition, aimed at improving its look and presentation to TV and fans.
EHF Delegates
Following a detailed analysis of the current procedures for selecting and educating delegates, the Executive Committee approved the further development, by the Technical Commissions and the EHF Office, of a new EHF Delegate registration system, which be presented at the next Executive Committee meeting in June 2011.
Multiple Club Ownership
The complex issue of Multiple Club Ownership, in particular in the EHF Champions League, was discussed and the handling of the issue by other team sport federations was examined in detail. At its last meeting in March 2011, the EHF Competitions Commission recommended the introduction of measures to avoid conflicts of sporting interests or undue influence where different clubs in the same competition are owned by the same organisation, person or persons.
The Executive Committee decided that from the coming season clubs would be required, as part of the registration process for the EHF Champions League, to guarantee there was no involvement in the club of an owner of another club in the same competition. Where this guarantee cannot be given, the club will be required to submit documents to the EHF detailing its structure and finances for approval.
Technical Referee Commission
The Executive Committee acknowledged the sad news of the passing away of Hans Thomas at the age of 60 on 5 March 2011. They noted the significant contribution the former top referee had made in his role as an EHF referee. Following Hans Thomas’ death the Executive Committee is required to nominated a replacement to the Technical Referee Commission (TRC), this will be dealt with at the next EHF Executive meeting in June 2011.
National Teams
A proposal from the Nations Board regarding the distribution of the 20% of EURO revenue for participating teams – the proportion of revenue from the European Championships agreed by Congress in 2008 – was accepted by the EHF Executive Committee. In the future this proportion of revenue will be distributed 25% per diem for delegation members, 25% for prize money split between the top four nations and 50% to appearance fees.
Professional Handball Board
The EHF Executive Committee approved a number of measures put forward by the Professional Handball Board. These included the development of a proposal for an overall insurance system for national team players, a pilot project for the further education of handball managers in Autumn 2011 as well as the commissioning of a major study of the entire competition system and effects of any changes on the handball market.
Women’s Handball Programme
Women’s handball in Europe has received a boost thanks to the approval of a Women’s Handball Programme Action Plan by the EHF Executive Committee. The initiative to be led by EHF Executive Committee member, Arne Elovsson, is aimed at raising the profile and promotion of the women’s game on the continent and follows a number of initiatives in 2010 including the EHF Women’s Competition Conference in Herning, Denmark (June 2010), EHF Women’s Champions League Workshop in Vienna, Austria (November 2010) and the Women’s Handball Promotion Round Table in Herning, Denmark during EURO 2010.
TEXT: EHF
