EHF Reaction to the Independent Analysis of the match:

THW Kiel v SG Flensburg-Handewitt

In response to the allegations of match manipulation in the second leg of the 2007 EHF Champions League Final, THW Kiel vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, the European Handball Federation commissioned an external technical analysis conducted by the Referee / Rule expert of the Playing Rules and Referees Commission of the International Handball Federation, Roland Bürgi /SUI/.

In the following, allowing for transparency, we will provide you with extracts of this analysis.

The analysis was aimed not only at defining the decisions being correct or incorrect but especially also to identify those decisions or situations that could lead to an assumption of an alleged tendency in the officiating of the game.

The result of the analysis provides a harmonised conducting of the match with a clear line in the decisions, which was kept firm during the complete period of the game.

Minor and questionable decisions were balanced on both sides up to about minute 46 of the game with a small majority of decisions in favour of the away team in the last part of the match.

At no point of the game was any bias noted within the officiating. Even though there were several questionable situations where the referees had the possibility to decide in favour of the home club, but, that was not the case.

In addition, to the findings of this analysis, the EHF will conduct a secondary analysis with the appointment a different expert from outside of international handball organisations.

The conclusion can be drawn that the report of the technical delegate at the match in 2007, Jesus Guerrero (ESP), and the technical analysis carried out by Roland Bürgi come to an identical result.

As a reaction to the allegations made earlier about THW Kiel games, the EHF has carried out a research on all European Cup matches of THW Kiel in the period 2000-2009.

The research shows a highly balanced picture of referee nomination. 59 different referee couples from 27 European nations were assigned to altogether 83 games played by the club.

In addition to this technical analysis, the EHF at the same time is fully cooperating with the legal authorities in Germany and will provide them with all technical information in order to contribute to a clear picture in the matter.