István Varga passes away

There was tragic news ahead of the start of the EHF EURO 2014 in Hungary and Croatia, as the death of the former Hungarian national team player and EHF delegate, István Varga, was announced. He was 71 years of age.

A former player with Budapest Honvéd and Debreceni Dózsa, Varga played 119 matches for the Hungarian national team in the left back position.

He represented his country in two Olympic Games and two World Championships and was a member of world and European selections.

Following his playing career, Varga became an EHF delegate in 1994. His last nomination for the EHF was in May 2012.

Talking at the Opening Press Conference of the EHF EURO 2014 in Györ, where the news of his passing was announced, Michael Wiederer, EHF Secretary General, said: “The EHF would like to express its deepest sympathy to István Varga’s family and friends. As a former top player and delegate of the EHF, István Varga played an important part in handball in Europe.”

Iván Vetési, President of the Hungarian Handball Federation, said: “István Varga was one of the greatest Hungarian handball players of all times, his death is a big loss for Hungarian sport and for the entire European handball. Rest in peace, Pista!”

A minute’s silence was held in Debrecen, where István Varga was a well-known and popular figure, before the first matches of the preliminary round of EHF EURO 2014.