Executive Committee meets in Zagreb as Croatia hosts EHF events

The EHF Executive Committee met in the Croatian capital, Zagreb, on Saturday 24 June 2017, on the fringes of both the 2017 Beach Handball EURO and the draw for the Men’s EHF EURO 2018 final tournament.

With all 11 members of the Executive attending the meeting, there was a full agenda of reports on activities over the last period from technical and legal commissions, the EHF Anti-doping Unit and stakeholder groups.

The final report on the 2016 finances, having been approved by the external auditor and EHF Comptrollers, was received. An update to the 2017 budget with an improved forecast was reported.

Champions League places confirmed

The decision on the allocation of places in both the VELUX EHF Champions League and Women’s EHF Champions League was one of the most challenging yet with a record number of teams wanting to take part in the competition.

43 teams from 26 countries requested places in the VELUX EHF Champions League, with 25 teams looking for a place in the women’s competition.

In the VELUX EHF Champions League, all registrations were evaluated according to a criteria system before a decision on the allocation of places and also participation in groups A/B and C/D was decided.

A complete overview of the final line-up in both competitions can be found here: VELUX EHF Champions League / Women’s EHF Champions League.

Winner takes all at EHF EURO 2018

There will be an important change to the direct qualification from Men’s EHF EURO 2018 in Croatia to the next World Championship.

Whereas at previous EHF EURO events, three nations received direct qualification places, only one team will qualify from EHF EURO 2018 to the 2019 World Championship in Denmark and Germany.

The change, specifically for the 2018 event, has been made because of the number of places available for European teams at the World Championship as well as the number of nations to have registered for the event.

Due to the expansion of the men’s competition in 2020 to 24 teams, the EHF EURO 2018 tournament winner also qualifies directly to EHF EURO 2020 in Sweden, Austria and Norway.

Several other clarifications to competition regulations were also agreed with a change to the playing of YAC EHF Championship events from 2018. The current system for nine to 12 teams will be replaced with cross matches, additional rest days and a limit of two matches in a row starting in 2018.

The wording of the regulations to select the best-ranked third placed team in EHF EURO qualifications rounds was agreed as were changes to the EHF EURO qualification regulations, focused on organisational matters.

Marketing contracts post 2020

The Executive discussed the tendering process for the marketing rights in the EHF EURO and EHF Champions League from 2020, taking note of recent stakeholder activities.

It confirmed the modular tendering process for the long-term (2020 through to 2030) media and marketing rights for both competition as announced at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. The tender documentation will be published in September 2017.

The EHF Executive Committee agreed a mandate to prolong the Memorandum of Understanding with representatives of the men’s clubs for the next period to safeguard market negotiations.

As part of the new MoU, a restructuring of the marketing process is foreseen, with the involvement of clubs and a future competition system in compliance with the international calendar.

EHF EURO 2020 qualification

A detailed report was received on the successful carrying out of the 2nd IHF Emerging Nations Championship in Bulgarian, which also formed part of qualification to EHF EURO 2020.

Event winners, Faroe Islands, Turkey and Kosovo will now enter the second phase of qualification starting in October. Estonia, Greece and Italy have also qualified for qualification from the first round.

The Men’s EHF EURO 2018 to be hosted by Sweden, Austria and Norway will be the first to be played with 24 teams in January 2020.

EHF EURO 2018 changes

Two proposals from the organisers of the Women’s EHF EURO 2018 in France were approved. This includes the sale of tickets for individual matches rather than daily tickets and the confirmation of the match schedule/playing times in advance of the event.

A proposal to update the process for the substitution of players at EHF EURO events as of EHF EURO 2018 in Croatia was agreed.

Beach Handball

The 2018 edition of the Men’s and Women’s 18 Beach Handball EURO was awarded to Montenegro.

The Executive also agreed to the creation of a working group with the aim of implementing beach handball into the university curriculum.

Development projects

SMART project with the Austrian and Latvian Handball federations (2017-2020) were agreed to further the development of the sport in these countries.

Based on an initiative from member nations, it was also agreed to support a new development project to be known as: ‘European Development Counselling for Federations’.

The initiative will be headed up by the EHF Honorary President, Jean Brihault, given his extensive professional expertise and experience within European handball.

New venue for 2018 EHF Congress

For organisational reasons, the EHF Executive agreed to a change in the host city for the 2018 EHF Congress. The event will now be held in Glasgow, Scotland rather than in Edinburgh as originally scheduled. The Congress will take place on 18/19 June 2018.

Scheduled for the final weekend of the Men’s EHF EURO 2018 (27/28 January 2018) is the EHF Presidents Conference. Here motions for changes to the structure of the federation will be proposed with formal motions to be put to Congress in June.

Upcoming events

The EHF events taking place in the next months were highlighted including: Goalcha Conference, Tulln, Austria (14-16 July); European Week of Sport (23-29 September) and the 2017 EHF Scientific Conference (17-18 November) as well as the women’s 17 and 19 YAC events over the summer months.

Next meeting

The EHF Executive Committee is scheduled to meet next on 28 September 2017 in Lisbon at the invitation of the Portuguese Handball Federation.