EHF Court of Appeal decision

The EHF Court of Appeal has released its decision in the case regarding the transfer of Novak Boskovic from Maccabi “Tyrec” Tel Aviv to RK Cimos Koper.

The Serbian player Novak Boskovic signed a two years contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv in September 2010. On 12 June 2012 the EHF received an official transfer request from the Slovenian club RK Cimos Koper regarding the player. However, the Israeli Handball Federation informed the EHF about an existing new contract between the player and Maccabi “Tyrec” Tel Aviv for the season 2012/13.

The EHF administrative body, on the basis of the documents provided by both parties, confirmed the transfer of the player to RK Cimos Koper on 14 August 2012, considering that the employment relationship between the parties had come to an end and the new contract invoked by the Israeli Handball Federation was not valid and therefore the player was release from his obligations and free to sign with RK Cimos Koper.

Thereafter Maccabi “Tyrec” Tel Aviv filed an appeal with the EHF Court of Appeal.

EHF Court of Appeal decision

In its decision released to the parties on 24 October 2012, the EHF Court of Appeal confirmed the decision of the first instance.

The EHF Court of Appeal found that the new contract signed by Maccabi Tel Aviv and the player was not valid regarding the requirements laid down by articles 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 of the IHF Transfer Regulations.

The EHF Court of Appeal underlined the need for in an employment relationship to write clear and unambiguous contracts in compliance with the IHF Regulations regarding professional players’ contracts.

Therefore, the first  instance decision is upheld, the player Novak Boskovic is transferred to RK Cimos Koper and the Slovenian Handball Federation is in possession of the player’s transfer rights.

EHF Court of Arbitration

In line with the EHF Legal Regulations, a statement of claim may be filed by any of the parties to the EHF Court of Arbitration (ECA) within 21 days. ECA is an independent court of arbitration solving disputes between handball related persons and entities once all EHF internal remedies have been exhausted. The disputes brought to the ECA are settled by an arbitral chamber composed of three arbitrators, part of the ECA list of arbitrators, following a specific procedure defined in the Rules of Arbitration for ECA.