The highly regarded German news magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ reports in its latest issue that International Handball Federation (IHF) President, Hassan Moustafa, had a private services contract with the sports and marketing company, Sportfive. Sportfive, ‘coincidentally’ is the very same company which had obtained the TV rights to IHF events during the period of Moustafa’s private contract with them. The issue that obviously arises is that of a conflict of interest, with Moustafa apparently profiting substantially (602,000 Euros) from IHF business relations with Sportfive.

Der Spiegel (21 Jan 10): Moustafa had secret agreement with marketing agency: http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/0,1518,673558,00.html

The following is a true translation of the article in ‘Der Spiegel.’

“Hassan Moustafa, the President of the IHF had, through his personal, Cairo-based company ‘Sport Group,’ a contract as an advisor to the marketing firm Sportfive. Under this contract, Sportfive, which had the IHF TV rights until the end of 2009 and thus was the clearly largest business partner of the IHF, paid the IHF top official 602,000 Euro for his lobbying services from October 2007 through the end of 2009. At least half of this payment was transferred to Moustafa at a private account at a branch office of BNP Paribas in the Egyptian town of Gizeh.

As it is specified in the contract, which is available to ‘Der Spiegel’, Moustafa was expected to use ‘his good connections with sports organizations and their decision-makers’ as well as his contacts with media companies exclusively for the business interests of Sportfive. Furthermore, Moustafa should ‘use his best efforts to support the aims of Sportfive to secure the marketing rights for important events’.

Moustafa confirmed the existence of the contract. Also Robert Mueller von Vultejus, the former Managing Director of Sportfive, who co-signed the contract in October 2007, confirmed the procedure. Mueller, who is currently the Managing Director of Ufa Sports, an agency for sports rights, also stated that Sportfive already had a contract with Moustafa in the spring of 2007, but that this contract ‘was slightly modified at the request of Moustafa’ in October 2007. In the revised version, which replaced the earlier one, Sportfive explicitly agreed to refrain from using Moustafa’s ‘good relations with decision-makers’ with regard to handball and to ASOIF, the Association of Summer Olympic Sports. This caveat was missing in the earlier version.

Moustafa informed ‘Der Spiegel’ that he said both a draft and the final, signed version of the contract from October 2007 to the Ethics Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Ethics Commission was said to have had no objections. Moustafa was not willing to allow this to be verified. ‘He did not have the right to make this document available’. The IOC informed that Moustafa had not sought ‘the advice of the Ethics Commission’ until some time in 2008, long after the payment of the 602,000 Euro had been transferred.

Moustafa is an important person in international sports politics. His opponents view him as the prototype for disreputable functionaries, who have a court of people ‘saying yes’ and ‘nodding agreement, and a nepotism, where money is moved back and forth in strange ways.

One of the most frequent accusations is that over the years Moustafa has enriched himself to the tune of hundreds of thousands of Swiss Francs through shoddy expense accounting.

But no other issue caused such a worldwide stir as the scandal involving a game in a qualification tournament for the 2008 Olympic Games between Kuwait and the favored team from South Korea. Moustafa ensured that the game would not, as planned, be refereed by two referees from Germany but by two referees from Jordan, who decided all contested situations to the disadvantage of South Korea. Kuwait won the game. The tournament had to be repeated, as the decision of the international sports court, CAS, was: game manipulation. From then on, the accusations of corruption follow Moustafa.”

* * *
The question now is whether and how the IHF Council and the IHF membership will react, upon learning about this well-researched and documented matter. THN will return to this matter and to other recent developments at the IHF with a commentary in the near future.

According to an email message from the Group Club Handball (GCH) General Manager, Gerd Butzeck, International Handball Federation (IHF) President Hassan Moustafa is now drawing a salary from the IHF. The email which was sent to all of the member clubs of the GCH, references an article from the sports website Sportcal (www.sportcal.com (subscription required)) and includes several quotes from the IHF President defending recent actions and upheaval in the IHF office.

In citing the IHF’s council decision to place him on the payroll Mr. Moustafa emphasized that “Nobody has my experience,” adding that he spent 10 years as an international player, 10 years as an international coach, time as an international referee and that he completed a masters degree in handball.

The article goes on to state that Moustafa had no indication that outgoing Sports Administration Head, Ekke Hoffmann, was unhappy and he suggested that his dissatisfaction must have come from the decision to make the president a full-time employee. Hoffman apparently will be replaced by the Competition Director, Patric Stubb. Moustafa also indicated that the former Head of Administration had been fired over a dispute concerning sick leave.

THN (6 Jan 2010): IHF Front Office Shakeup: Head of Administration is quietly replaced by former Egyptian Handball Federation official: https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.915
THN (11 Jan 2010): Commentary: Has it not gone too far now? IHF president forces key employee to resign!: https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.920
IHF Administration Page: http://www.ihf.info/front_content.php?idcat=115 (Obviously, needing some substantial revision)

The last few months have seen some significant changes in the administration offices of the International Handball Federation (IHF). Without any formal announcement last September the IHF first quietly dismissed its “Head of Administration, Christoph Geissler. Geissler, the former Assistant Managing Director, had been appointed to the new Head of Administration position in August of 2008. This position, along with the position of “Head of Sports Department” had been created in the wake of then IHF Managing Director, Ms Hala Helmy’s surprise resignation in May of 2008. At the time the IHF trumpeted the splitting of the IHF Managing Director duties as a benefit to handball federations worldwide and would facilitate better handling of the busy international schedule.

Although no longer employed by the IHF, Mr. Geissler is still listed as the Head of Administration on the IHF’s webpage. More importantly, without fanfare or announcement the IHF has now apparently hired a replacement for this key position as official IHF correspondence is now being signed out by a new Head of Administration, Ms. Amal Khalifa. Ms Kalifa is a former director of the Egyptian Handball Federation, but had lost her position when Dr Moustafa was prohibited from retaining his Presidency of the Egyptian Federation in December of 2008. Additionally, she has performed several tasks for the IHF President in the past as a personal assistant in a semi-official capacity.

Commentary: Nothing against the nation of Egypt, but isn’t it just a little too much of a coincidence that the IHF has now had two Egyptians hired into key management positions at its Headquarters in Basel in the past two years. I’m sure an exhaustive world-wide search has simply led to the most qualified person getting the job. Seriously, should anyone be surprised that a close confident to Dr Moustafa will supervise day to day activities in Basel? Time will tell if Ms Kalifa will be more successful then Ms Helmy. And time will tell if the International Handball community will ever take steps to right its ship.

IHF: Hala Helmy quits the International Handball Federation (14 May 08): http://www.ihf.info/front_content.php?idcat=228&idart=1111
IHF: IHF Executive Committee approves structural changes of the IHF Head Office (11 Aug 08): http://www.ihf.info/front_content.php?idcat=228&idart=1513
IHF: IHF Administration Staff page: http://www.ihf.info/front_content.php?idcat=115
THN: Ally to IHF President Moustafa Loses Egyptian Handball Federation Election (31 Dec 08): https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.661

Day 1 of the Women’s World Championships in China is in the books. The minor surprise of the day is Brazil knocking off France 22-20 in the so called “Group of Death”. The other “outsiders” all lost their matches, although Congo hung tough with Sweden, drawing with them 9-9 at halftime, before Sweden got their act together in the 2nd half.

Perhaps, Sweden’s poor performance can be tied to the lack of heat at the arena and the Chinese authorities blocking of access to Facebook. Both of these problems were noted in Swedish player, Isabelle Gulden’s blog for Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. Apparently, Chinese authorities did not heat during training sessions as a cost saving measure.

Sweden faces Brazil tomorrow in a key match up for both teams.

Isabelle Gulden Blog posts: http://blogg.aftonbladet.se/bellasvmblogg/2009/12/skype-och-facebook
http://blogg.aftonbladet.se/bellasvmblogg/2009/12/lucia-uttagning

Editor's note: The IHF website may not be the best source of information on a day to day basis, but they do a pretty good job of reporting on their World Championship events. For results, news stories and live ticker of matches: http://www.ihf.info/front_content.php?idcat=327

A planned match between Croatia and a “World Selection” team scheduled for Wednesday, 2 December in Zagreb has been cancelled due to an impasse between the International Handball Federation (IHF) and the Group Club Handball (GCH). The match was planned in conjunction with the Croatian Federation’s 60th anniversary celebrations. In a statement on the IHF website, IHF President Hassan Moustafa expressed his regret that the GCH was withholding the release of players needed to make the match representative of a “World Selecion.”

In a separate press release, the GCH, and the top professional clubs it represents in Europe, has indicated that players were not released due to the lack of any agreement in regards to insurance (in case players are injured) or compensation. Furthermore, the GCH has indicated that top clubs will continue to not release players for World Selection matches if insurance and compensation issues are not agreed to by the clubs and the IHF prior to the event.

Notably, President Moustafa’s statement included no mention of the underlying issues which resulted in the impasse or any intention for the IHF to address them.

IHF: Statement of IHF President Dr Moustafa regarding the World Selection Match: http://www.ihf.info/front_content.php?idcat=57&idart=2184
GCH: Seven GCH Member Clubs refuse to release players to a match of the World Selection, 6.11.09: http://www.groupclubhandball.com/?p=450

Egypt, Argentina and Brazil’s Junior teams have clearly shown that they are on a par with the traditional European powers at the IHF Junior World Championships currently ongoing in Egypt. All three teams did well in preliminary group play and have advanced to the Main Round joining 9 other teams from Europe. As host, Egypt was expected to advance, but Argentina and Brazil’s performance has been at least a mild surprise. Although, some would argue that Argentina’s strong performance is proof that their 4th place at the Under 19’s 2 years ago was no fluke. Argentina’s big win was a 25-24 edging of Germany while Brazil humbled France 33-25. Most of the French roster consists of players playing in the French Professional league, arguably the 3rd best league in the world, which suggests that Brazil’s current player development is on a par with the French. Argentina, Brazil and Egypt each took 2 points with them into the main round, so each also has a realistic chance to make it to the semifinals.

The sole North American representative, Greenland has struggled so far only pulling out a narrow victory against Libya. They also suffered narrow losses to minor European handball nations Estonia and the Netherlands. But despite their disappointment as this IHF report http://www.ihf.info/front_content.php?idcat=319&idart=2103 indicates, they continue to impress attendees with their fan support.

Commentary: Argentina and Brazil’s success at this tournament is a very stark reminder of the challenge the U.S. faces in the Pan American region. It’s a pretty safe bet that these two teams of under 21’s would have little trouble in dispatching any team (regardless of age) the U.S. could put together right now. In all likelihood the South American teams consist of players who have been honing their skills in the sport for several years. While the U.S. is taking practical steps to boost grassroots programs it’s going to take awhile to build the type of structure that will field a competitive under 21 team.

It’s too bad Greenland hasn’t performed better at the tournament. I’m guessing that they simply lack depth beyond, Angutimmarik Kreutzmann, who impressed me 2.5 years ago when he led the senior team in scoring at the Senior World Championships. Just being there is a victory for Greenland, though, as two years ago they were denied the opportunity to participate when the PATHF arbitrarily downgraded their membership and prevented them from qualifying.

IHF: Preliminary Round summary: http://wchjunior09egy.ihf.info/exchange/egy/pdf/SUMMARY.pdf
THN (January 2007) Greenland Handball (A National Passion): https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.254
THN (April 2007): Why the Recent Downgrading of Greenland’s PATHF Membership Status is Wrong: https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?extend.312
IHF: Hot atmosphere from the cold North – Greenland’s fan are celebrating with their team: http://www.ihf.info/front_content.php?idcat=319&idart=2103

Der Spiegel, one of Germany’s leading weekly magazines has an article on the IHF Congress. Included in the article is a mention of USATH President Dieter Esch's actions at the Congress. I’ve placed an automatic google translation at the wikispace page link below. German readers are invited to clean up the translation at that page. To make correction just click on the “edit this page” button and start typing.

Der Spiegel Article: http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,630297,00.html
Wikispace Translation page: http://teamhandball.wikispaces.com/Translation-+Der+Spiegel+IHF+Congress+Article

A Swiss TV crew was present at the IHF Congress in Cairo and several videos are available for viewing on line at this link: http://sport.sf.tv/nachrichten/archiv/2009/06/12/mehr_sport/demokratie_nach_den_regeln_des_pharaos

All of the videos are in German, but provide even non-German speakers a first hand look at the organization problems indicated in the Danish news report. The first video on the page provides a general overview of the events that took place at the Congress. The videos below that include interviews with Jean Kaiser, Dr Moustafa, and Peter Muehlematter. Additionally, there are a couple of videos that show the actual conference with the Swiss delegation not being recognized to speak, their seat microphones not working and finally the hand-held microphone shutting down, reportedly at the control of Dr Moustafa. Keep in mind that with translation requirements these “malfunctions” would have made it virtually impossible for non-German speakers to fully understand what was going on.

Christer Ahl, the former IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission Pre (PRC) gave a presentation on Wednesday, 10 June at “Play the Game 2009” Conference. Ahl’s presentation was entitled “World handball hi-jacked by its president: Structural problems, scandals, and an urgent need for change”. The presentation covers many of the same issues addressed in the interview previously published on the Team Handball News website. Additionally, Ahl also participated in a forum discussing match fixing. During the forum he noted that match fixing in Handball has been mostly club/nation motivated as opposed to gambling related.

Video Link (Ahl Presentation): http://www.playthegame.org/conferences/play-the-game-2009/on-demand-streaming/ten-years-after-the-ioc-reforms.html (Ahl’s presentation begins at 13:30 and runs about 25 minutes)

Video Link (Panel forum on Match Fixing): http://www.playthegame.org/conferences/play-the-game-2009/on-demand-streaming/match-fixing/match-fixing-a-blow-to-the-core-of-sport-part-two.html
(Panel begins at 33:00)

Editor’s Note: The Play the Game conference has a number of presentations on the business of sport and ethics. While they are not directly related to handball they may be of interest to the handball fan. In particular, I found the podcasts on match fixing and grass roots development enlightening.

Play the Game 2009 Homepage: http://www.playthegame.org/conferences/play-the-game-2009.html
Play the Game 2009 Podcasts: http://coventryuniversity.podbean.com/category/business-environment-and-society/the-business-of-sport/play-the-game-2009/

A Danish newspaper interviewed Danish Handball Federation President, Per Rasmussen, as he was waiting to return home from the IHF Congress in Cairo this past weekend. A courtesy translation has been provided by one of our readers.

[b]DHF-President Per Rasmussen has little positive to say about the just concluded congress of the International Handball Federation.[/b]

by Christian Heide-Jørgensen

Disorganized, messy and appalling undemocratic.

So reads the conclusion from the chairman of the Danish Handball Federation (DHF), Per Rasmussen, when he sums up the entire weekend's congress of the International Handball Federation (IHF). The congress was held in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

"In advance, I had feared the worst, and I regret to say that my worst fears were confirmed," said DHF-chairman to Politiken, while he waited for his flight home from Cairo.

Strangely "Everything seemed completely disorganized, there was no control, and it was in a democratic sense a rather curious congress', he told and was surprised to find that neither was elected a moderator, or a conductor, but that it instead was the IHF's current leadership that decided who would and could speak during the congress.

It made, among other things, the election for IHF president between the incumbent, accused of corruption and critisised president Hassan Moustafa of Egypt and Luxembourg's Jean Kaiser, a chaotic affair.

[b]Were asked to sit[/b]

Even before Congress had the latter been told by the IHF's headquarters in Basle that he would not have time to introduce himself to the delegates at the congress, which led him to fulminate against that Moustafa in turn traveled around the world in a charm offensive at the IHF's bill.

To the Berliner Zeitung Jean Kaiser told that he ahead of the congress had to wait a day and a half to receive his accreditation, and when it finally showed up, he had erroneously been accredited as a Lithuanian.

During that part of the congress, when the presidential election took place, his microphone did not work. In stead he received a hand-held microphone, which could be switched on and off when Hassan Moustafa
decided to.

[b]Muppet Show[/b]

"Every time when something did not suit Moustafa, the microphone was turned off. It was like the Muppet Show", a raging Jean Kaiser told the newspaper.

One day earlier, the Luxemburger had asked to get five minutes to speak during a meeting between the IHF's Commonwealth nations, so he could tell about his election program. According to Jean Kaiser, he was welcomed, but precisely as the meeting was to begin, Hassan Moustafa showed up, and then Kaiser was told to leave. On the way out he passed the president.

"Hassan lifted his finger and barked at me: 'Are you in the Commonwealth?'", says Kaiser, who after his own statements shot the question right back at the Egyptian.

Neither Luxembourg and Egypt are part of the Commonwealth, an association of mostly former British colonial countries.

[b]Europe outside influence[/b]

Hassan Moustafa won not only the presidential election. He won it by a landslide with 115 votes against Jean Kaiser's 25.

"Europe has no say. Nothing," said Per Rasmussen from the airport in Cairo.

"It is three other continents, who decides. Africa, Asia and South America. It is catastrophic. There are probably many good things to say about Nepal. But that a country with 120 registered players carries the same number of votes as large handball nations like Denmark, Sweden or Germany, is a problem," said the Danish President who did not want to tell which of the two candidates Danish handball voted for.

"It is obvious that three continents together have voted for Moustafa. And apparently also some European countries," said Per Rasmussen.

[b]Europe must handle the problems[/b]

"There is a considerable task, especially the European nations. We must find a common ground, because no one in the long run can be satisfied that the international federation is so top-heavy as it is," said the Danish representative.

Although the 32nd IHF Congress now has ended, there may be a sequel. Jean Kaiser is considering an appeal against the electoral process.

It was not possible to get a comment from Hassan Moustafa.

Politeken.dk: http://politiken.dk/sport/haandbold/article727543.ece

In case you are keeping score at home, Moustafa 115 : Kaiser 25.
Commentary: Don't ever underestimate the power of politics.

In a vote early in the IHF Congress proceedings the IHF Congress participants voted 103-9 for current Secretary General Peter Muehlemater to resign. With 147 in attendance this means that an additional 35 delegates probably abstained from the vote. Muehlematter is an ally of Kaiser and this vote probably signals a landslide Moustafa re-election.

Editor's note: I will be off line until around 1730 Pacific time. I suggest readers check www.handball-world.com for an update on the election in the interim.

In a memo addressed to all Handball federations, Jean Kaiser, highlights the continuing disparity in performance between Europe and the rest of the world and proposes that a special commission be set up to support development in small and mid-size national federations. The commission would work with the nations to develop realistic strategies for development and growth of the sport

Kaiser Letter on Development: https://teamhandballnews.com/request61.html
Kaiser Letter to Federations (Part 3): https://teamhandballnews.com/request62.html
Earlier Kaiser Letter: https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.760