Den infekterade konflikten mellan det internationella handbollsförbundet och den panamerikanska grenen tar nu nästa steg. IHF svarar Panamerikas utspel med att ogiltigförklara regionalförbundets egen omröstning.
Söndagen den 14 januari träffades IHF Council, vilken är den högsta styrande gruppen i det Internationella Handbollförbundet, i ett av sina återkommande möten. I mötet, som tog sin plats i Zagreb, klubbades beslutet att dela PATHF, det panamerikanska handbollsförbundet, i två delar. IHF, med ordföranden Dr. Hassan Moustafa i spetsen, ansåg sig ha stöd från alla medlemsländer från ett tidigare möte i november för att fatta detta kontroversiella beslut i ett ämne som varit en het potatis den senaste tiden.
PATHF blev rosenrasande och menar att beslutet fattades på helt felaktiga grunder. I ett officiellt uttalande gav man IHFs ordförande Dr. Hassan Moustafa skarp kritik:
”The decision taken by the IHF Council in its meeting in Zagreb last Sunday, to which the presence of two PATHF representatives (PATHF President Mario Moccia and Continental Representative Rafael Sepúlveda Montalvo) was banned, even though they had the right to be present, seeks a single end: to dismantle the Pan-American family illegally, damaging basic democratic principles, to silence voices opposing Moustafa’s regime.”
Nu har IHF besvarat denna skrivning från Panamerika. I ett långt statement publicerat på IHF:s hemsida menar de bland annat att det Panamerikanska handbollsförbundet missköts, att omröstningen som visade på stöd för ett enat förbund inte gjordes enligt regelboken och att utvecklingen skulle bli mycket bättre med det nya förslaget om två nya regioner (North America and the Caribbean Handball Confederation (“North”) och South and Central America Handball Confederation (“South)).
Läs hela uttalandet via följande länk, nedan ett utdrag:
LÄNK: IHF statement related to Pan-American continent
”If you look back and compare the attractiveness, development and promotion of handball before 2000 with today’s situation, it is obvious to every stakeholder that the rapid development of the sport is remarkable. The financial situation of the IHF also witnessed a significant increase from CHF 12 million every four years (TV and marketing rights) to CHF 100 million (only for TV rights). The IHF cannot hold back handball progress because of any self-interested people or entity. The planned projects shall be realised and the decisions of the IHF governing bodies shall be carried out, as the IHF Council is taking decisions only after thorough study, evaluation and analysis of the planned projects by the technical handball experts and the involvement of the IHF technical commissions COC (Commission of Organising and Competition), PRC (Playing Rules and Referees Commission) and CCM (Commission of Coaching and Methods). The IHF shall invest heavily in the new system, due to the fact that currently no financial resources exist in Pan-America until the sport will flourish and consequently generate income. The handball progress in Pan-America is totally behind the handball progress in the other continents, and PATHF is the only Continental Confederation apart from the newly formed continent of Oceania, which has not had any sponsorship or TV rights partner since 2012.
The IHF President’s development plan includes many projects which shall promote the development of the sport worldwide and in Pan-America. He undertakes large endeavours in many fields to develop handball not only to maintain its position on the Olympic programme but also to pave the way for development on all levels, including World Championships and Olympic Games.
The IHF is hereby asking the few people who opposed the decision to give a clear and realistic reason for their position. “The development of handball in the continent had been halted even before my term of office”, said the IHF President. He added that the IHF has invested close to CHF 3.5 million into different projects and support for the continent, but without any significant return. The main three teams from the southern continent are moving up and down on the international level, but the rest of the National Federations of the continent have not been considered by the current PATHF.
The division of the continent will not affect the continental representation in the IHF Council, as there will be a representative from each continent in the IHF Council instead of having two representatives from one continent. The IHF could not wait until the legal body decided on PATHF’s appeal, as in case the appeal is rejected, PATHF still has different instances to appeal to.”