Norway Backs Call for New Leadership at International Handball Federation
Norway will not support the re-election of Hassan Moustafa as president of the International Handball Federation (IHF), signaling a significant shift in the global sport’s governance. The decision, announced Thursday, December 18th, comes as Moustafa faces the first serious challenge to his 25-year reign since 2009.
The Norwegian Handball Federation believes the IHF requires fresh leadership, citing concerns over the length of Moustafa’s tenure and his age. “I relate to the objective parameters which state that the current leader has been in office for 25 years and is 81 years old,” a senior Norwegian official stated. “It is both too long a reign and is too old to enter a new four-year period.”
The election is scheduled to take place this weekend in Cairo, Egypt – Moustafa’s hometown – with a decision expected between 8 and 10 a.m. Norwegian time on Sunday. Norway is currently evaluating the three challengers: Franc Bobinac of Slovenia, Gerd Butzeck of Germany, and Tjark de Lange of the Netherlands.
This marks a departure from previous IHF elections, where Moustafa enjoyed largely unchallenged authority. In 2009, opposing candidate Jean Kaiser reportedly had his microphone cut off during his address to the Congress. The current contest represents a potential turning point for the organization.
The IHF, under Moustafa’s leadership, has dramatically expanded its membership from 137 to 209 nations. However, this expansion has drawn criticism, with some alleging it was a tactic to consolidate power. Reports, including an investigation by VG in 2023, have highlighted concerns about the limited handball activity in many of the newly affiliated countries, specifically citing a remote town in Nepal. The IHF maintains that its goal is to promote handball globally.
Despite acknowledging Moustafa’s existing support within the IHF, the Norwegian official expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of change. “Everything is possible and I choose to believe in member democracy,” they said. “I also know that the sitting president has good support in many countries. So I’m not completely naive, I know it’s a steep hill, but I think many nations want change.”
Recent events have further underscored the growing tensions. Following Norway’s victory over Germany in the Women’s Handball World Cup final in Rotterdam, Moustafa’s absence from the trophy presentation was described as “disturbing” by the Norwegian delegation. “The WC is the flagship in international handball. It was a very, very unusual and funny situation,” the official added.
The Norwegian federation also expressed disappointment at not being able to meet with Moustafa personally during the World Cup, despite attempts to arrange discussions with all four candidates. While meetings were held with the three European challengers, Norway was forced to rely on a written four-year plan from Moustafa.
The debate surrounding the IHF was particularly heated during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, sparked by allegations of match-fixing in favor of host nations. This culminated in a confrontation between Moustafa and the Norwegian media on the final day of the tournament.
The outcome of Sunday’s election in Cairo will undoubtedly shape the future of international handball, and Norway’s decision to withhold its support for Moustafa signals a growing desire for reform within the sport.
