EHF and Forum Club Handball sign long-term agreement

The EHF and Forum Club Handball, the organisation representing Europe’s top men’s clubs, have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a meeting of the Forum Club Handball (FCH) board in Mallorca, Spain on Monday 16 October 2017.

The signing of the agreement follows formal approval of the terms of the MoU by the EHF Executive Committee at its previous meeting in Lisbon in September.

The EHF and Forum Club Handball signed the first MoU in 2010 and subsequently renewed the agreement in 2014. The current agreement expires in June 2018.

Following intensive negotiations, the two bodies have decided to further extend their cooperation through to 2030.

Commenting on the agreement, EHF President, Michael Wiederer, said: “The EHF has a long tradition of dialogue with top clubs and we share the common goal of strengthening top-class handball.

“We see it as the responsibility of the EHF to bring together both club and national team interests on one platform, and the signing of this new agreement will provide us with a solid basis in order to take the whole of the sport to an even higher level.”

The President of Forum Club Handball, Xavier O'Callaghan, said: “The new MoU is a milestone in the history of the relationship between clubs and federations.

“We will now become real partners, with each contributing with their own assets. This is what we have been looking for from the very beginning.

“Now we hope to build a common future and continue to improve handball at a club level.”

Long-term agreement

The signing of the MoU through to 2030 further supports the EHF’s ongoing tender process for the audio-visual and marketing rights for its top club and national team competitions.

The tender, which launched on 18 September, has generated strong interest and qualified companies have until 15 November 2017 to submit their proposals.

Audio-visual and marketing rights are available for the period 2020-2030 on a modular basis for club competitions including the EHF Champions League, EHF Cup and Challenge Cup as well as national team competitions: EHF EURO, youth and beach handball events.

Terms of MoU

The new MoU covers structural issues, including representation within the Professional Handball Board and EHF Executive Committee, as well as developments on a technical level.

The two bodies have also agreed the terms for the release of players for national team weeks and European Championships. This includes compensation for the release of players and insurance for players injured during these periods.

Further changes will see a repositioning of the marketing strategy for top club competitions with EHF and club rights to be bundled within EHF Marketing GmbH.

A joint steering board is to be created, made up of an equal number of representatives from the EHF and FCH. The interests of clubs in the marketing process will be further represented by the appointment of a second managing director for EHF Marketing GmbH.

Photographs:

Top left (from l-r): The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on behalf of the EHF and FCH by the EHF Secretary General, Martin Hausleitner; EHF President, Michael Wiederer; FCH President, Xavier O'Callaghan and FCH Managing Director, Gerd Butzeck. Middle right: Members of the EHF delegation with representatives of Forum Club Handball in Mallorca.