EHF Executive meets in Monaco
EHF Executive meets in Monaco
The day before the start of the 11th EHF Congress in Monaco was reserved for meetings of the EHF Commissions and the EHF Executive.
In the final round of meetings before elections to all of the EHF’s poltical bodies, the EHF Executive met to prepare for the Congress and also make important decision for the 2012/13 season.
The first major item for the meeting was the preparation for the Congress, including election procedures, motions and awarding of events.
The meeting dealt with a number of decisions from the Technical Commissions, and also decisions for the new season.
VELUX EHF Champions League
The four teams to play in the Wildcard Tournament on 8/9 September 2012 were decided. These were HSV Hamburg (GER), St Raphael Var Handball (FRA), Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) and Orlen Wisla Plock (POL). Further information can be found in the separate report.
The teams for the upcoming season, including the qualification procedures were agreed. A complete listing of all teams can found here and further information is a separate news report.
The Greek champions, Dimitrious Argous, were not accepted into the VELUX EHF Champions League.
Women’s EHF Champions League
The teams for the upcoming season were confirmed. A complete list can be found here.
It was noted that Spanish champions, Vivir Itako Balonmano had decided not to compete in the Women’s EHF Champions League in the coming season.
Swedish club, Sävehof, was awarded a direct place in Group Matches of the competition.
Qualification procedures, including an additional qualification tournament involving Issy Paris Handball (FRA), Zvezda (RUS) and HC Leipzig (GER) was confirmed. Additional information can be found here in a separate news report.
EHF Cup
A request from the French Handball Federation that France should receive an additional place in the new EHF Cup for US Dunkerque Handball (5th French League) was not accepted.
Women's EHF EURO 2012 qualification to World Championship 2013
The EHF Executive dealt with a proposal from the Competitions Commission that there be a reduction in the number of teams that qualify directly for the Women’s World Championship in Serbia in December 2013, from three to two, given that Europe will receive one place less in 2013 than was the case in Brazil in 2011.
It was agreed that in addition to Norway, who will qualify by right for the World Championship as defending champions, only two teams will qualify directly from EHF EURO 2012 and eight teams will then qualify via the play-offs in May 2013.
Rule change to be introduced
The EHF Executive confirmed that the new IHF rule relating to team time-outs would be introduced to all EHF club and national team competitions from the start of the new season. The result is that teams can now take three team time-outs, one in each half of the match and one additional team time-out at any time during the match.
The half-time break would continue to be set at 10 minutes, and can only be extended to 15 minutes in special circumstances.
Women’s EHF EURO 2012
The EHF Executive agreed that proceedings against the Netherlands Handball Federation would be initiated for financial damages caused by the withdrawal from the organisation of the Women’s EHF European Championship in December 2012.
Final meeting of 2008-2012 election period
Concluding the meeting, Tor Lian, presiding over his final Executive meeting as EHF President, thanked the whole of the committee for their support over the past 20 years of his involvement with the EHF.
