EHF Info for Men’s Club Teams

EHF Info for Men’s Club Teams

The EHF newsletters for clubs have become somewhat of a tradition over the course of the past year. They serve the purpose of keeping clubs informed on the status of activities and other topics of interest.

First of all, we would like to commence with matters which are directly related to the EHF Champions League and EHF Marketing GmbH. These are further to those which you were informed about at the Workshop of the Champions League clubs which took place on 15 September.

• The EHF Marketing’s Men’s Club Board has started its work within the framework of EHF Marketing. There have already been two meetings (the last on 08.09.2008). The Board primarily dealt with issues relating to the 2008/2009 season and special, strategic questions concerning the preparation for the 2009/2010 season.

• In a special Financial meeting at the end of August, an elected representative of the Board (T. Jersic) had the opportunity to gain an insight into Champions League finances. He reported back to the Board with positive results.

• The Club Board dealt with the advertising situation for the 2008/2009 season, the implementation of the advertising packages and the way they are split (2 packages will belong to the club). Further to this a third package (in markets where Interwetten can be presented) was retained by EHFM.

• EHF Marketing, under the authority of Managing Director P. Vargo, is currently working intensively on clarifying the TV market situation, especially for the clubs which only qualified for the CL in the middle of September.

Another important matter which we would like to draw your attention to are the results of the EHF Congress, which took place in Vienna on 26/27 September 2008.In addition to the published news (see once again in the attachment), we would like to use this opportunity to give you some more details here:

• The leadership of the EHF was unanimously confirmed for a further period of 4 years. They stressed once again at the Congress and related meetings the importance and wish to work together with both the leagues and the clubs.

• This statement of cooperation is reflected in the establishment of a Working Group in the form of a Task Force, made up of representatives from all interest groups, which will work on a final solution for the highly complex matter of the scheduling of Men’s European Championships after 2010. The following persons were nominated and confirmed for the Task Force:

  • Joan Marin/ESP – representing the Top Clubs,
  • Reiner Witte/GER representing the Leagues,
  • Morten Stig Christensen/DEN representing the National Federations and as Chairman of the National Team Committee,
  • Jan Tuik/NED as technical representative and Chairman of the Competitions Commission.
  • Jean Brihault/FRA will chair the group, as Vice President of the EHF and chair at the Competitions Conference, which took place back in April.

In a second step, the EHF executive Committee will come to a final decision on the scheduling of the European Championships in January 2012 or May/June 2011. The decision is planned for March 2009.

The EHF sees it as an important step to establish this Task Force with all important parties represented. This common platform to ensure the reinforcement of the handball brand in Europe is highly important.

This was reinforced to the Congress through a presentation by the European Brand Institute, which pointed out the potential of the product, handball.

• It was also decided, following a motion by the Executive of the EHF, to ensure a fixed percentage return to the clubs from the European Championships. This solution has resulted directly from the cooperation between the EHF and the clubs.

• The position of Joan Marin/ESP on the EHF Competitions Commission, as Chairman of the Men’s Club Board, was confirmed. This was agreed unanimously by the Congress. The first meeting of the CC will be held within the framework of a weekend of EHF meetings of elected Bodies on 24/25 October.

• The report of EHF Marketing 2005-2008 included details on the positive development in the area of TV as well as information on financial distribution and also external influences. The Congress was informed and the report accepted.

• The participation of numerous club representatives and league representatives at the Congress, for example alongside J. Marin, U. Schwenker and T. Jersic, strengthened the cooperation, understanding and communication even further.

• The EHF Marketing GmbH held its General Assembly the day prior to the Congress. The Board representatives were also present and the accounts of 2007/2008 were confirmed following examination by the external chartered accountants, as well as the EHF comptrollers (W. Gremmel/GER and H. Schebeczek/AUT). The 2008/2009 budget, presented by Managing Director P. Vargo, was approved.

The new Executive Committee will hold its first work session in October and will deal with the matters passed by the Congress, as well as direct responsibilities and task distribution.