“EHF Congress proved, Europe are striving for change in IHF leadership”

The delegates of 50 national handball federation from Europe had gathered for the Ordinary Congress of the European Handball Federation in Andau, Austria, last weekend. President Michael Wiederer (Austria), First Vice President Predrag Boskovic (Montenegro) and Vice President Finances Henrik La Cour (Denmark) had been re-elected for their each third term of office since 2016. Besides, all three commissions are headed by the same re-elected chairpersons.

Gerd Butzeck, IHF presidential candidate in December in Cairo and former member of the EHF Executive Committee, attended the EHF Congress in Andau as part of the German Handball Federation’s delegation. There, he witnessed the announcement of Slovenian Franjo Bobinac, former EHF Executive Committee member, to also candidate for the IHF Presidency in Cairo. “I expressly welcome this candidature,” Butzeck said, adding: “It shows that handball wants more than another four years of current President Hassan Moustafa. However, due to the IHF electoral system, only two candidates will remain in the final round. If Hassan Moustafa is one of them, that will be the moment of unveilance, whether there is a global majority for a change or not.”

In general, Butzeck realized the will to change in terms of the IHF leadership at the EHF Congress: “It became obvious that almost all federations in Europe are striving for change after Hassan Moustafa’s six terms in office. Re-elected President Michael Wiederer was given the task of uniting Europe for a new beginning within the IHF. Unfortunately, Moustafa canceled his participation in the EHF Congress at the last moment.”