Ramon Gallego har redan sagt upp sig under uppmärksammade former. Även en av hans kolleger, Tono Huelin, har nu bestämt sig för att lämna IHF. I en stor intervju med Handbollskanalen berättar IHF-föreläsaren bland annat om varför han sa upp sig, hur det egentligen är att jobba för IHF och Hassan Moustafas metoder.
Jose Antonio ”Tono” Huelin är en minst sagt erfaren person inom handbollsvärlden. Spanjoren var en IHF-domare under 21 säsonger, från 1987 till 2008 då han avslutade domarkarriären med att döma OS i Peking. Tono dömde bland annat två OS, tre VM, fyra EM och två Champions League-finaler.
Efter karriären började Huelin att utbilda domare och 2009, endast ett år efter att han avslutat sin domarkarriär, blev han föreläsare med titeln ”IHF Rules of the Game Lecturer”. Sedan dess har Huelin utbildat domare och dessutom jobbat som delegat för IHF och EHF. Huelin var bland annat med som domarobservatör och delegat under OS i Rio 2016 och VM i Egypten 2021.
Utöver detta var Huelin en av medlemmarna i gruppen ”New Rules Working Group”, en grupp som skrev och designade nya regler. I den gruppen ingick även Ramon Gallego som ordförande – med andra ord har två av fem medlemmar hoppat av.
Häromdagen uppdagades det att även Tono Huelin hade hoppat av och Handbollskanalen tog givetvis kontakt med honom för att höra hans sida av det som hänt.
Kommande del av artikeln är på engelska.
Handbollskanalen asked Tono Huelin why he decided to follow his colleague Ramon Gallego and quit all the positions related to the PRC board of instructors.
– This was an easy decision for me, despite we were so close to Tokyo 2020. And the reason was of course in solidarity with the last lack of respect of the IHF President with Ramón, with this crazy and capricious decision of exclude him from the OOGG. It was not because of this single fact, there were many other interferences before, but this was the one that overflowed the glass of patience.
Gallego and Huelin has known each other for years and of course share a lot of values.
– The only way to empower referees to be able to do a good job in their already very difficult task is to ensure their independence from political pressure. So when the decision of the IHF president to exclude the leader of the referees out of the most important competition, I decided also not to be part of this polluted environment anymore.
Tono Huelin also says that Ramon and he are not alone in deciding to quit. Over the last two days two other persons has taken the same decision.
How much of your decision had to do with Ramon Gallegos decision?
– I would say that this was a decision taken at the same moment. When he commented me the IHF’s decision, I told him, Ramón it’s time to leave this boat. There are certain limits of what can be tolerated.
– I have never had the closest relationship with the president like Ramón had, the PRC chairman has often meetings with him, so I personally didn’t suffer similar experiences, but I have noticed how he treats people working for the IHF several times and it’s not a nice experience.
A lot have been said over the years regarding Hassan Moustafa and the IHF presidents methods. Tono Huelin doesn’t shy away from telling it like it is.
– I don’t know anybody that is happy when he’s around. He has a dictatorial style, and whoever has a different opinion can’t express it due to the risk to be ”fired”.
Hassan Moustafa became the president of the IHF in the year 2000 and seemingly has a firm grip over the organization. Tono Huelin wants to see a change in leadership.
– But it’s a Congress responsibility.
– Personally I would like that anyone else with another profile could be elected. The IHF is a very important organization that deserves a modernization in the structures and procedures.
Read more: Ramon Gallego responds to the IHF