eurohandball.com: The new season in the EHF club competitions has just started, yet changes are already being considered. What exactly has been discussed?
Michael Wiederer: We have only just introduced the new playing system for the EHF Champions League Men, but at the same time we are already evaluating to ensure that it’s ‘fit for the future’. We are in contact with the clubs to receive their feedback, and we are also looking at how we can invest in growth and to improve the environment for the clubs.
eurohandball.com: What exactly does that involve?
Michael Wiederer: The EHF Marketing Advisory Board has agreed to establish an investment fund to create the financial basis for these discussions. Topics include among others infrastructure, arenas, the playing system and financial distribution. We will commonly work on these topics and discuss them with the clubs, for example already at the 20th anniversary of the Forum Club Handball in October. First measures could then be tabled to the EHF EXEC for its meeting in December – a first implementation would be possible as of the 2027/28 season.
eurohandball.com: What adjustments are considered for the EHF Champions League Men?
Michael Wiederer: Some periods without matches are too long, particularly for the 12 teams that after the group phase do not progress to the main round but continue in the EHF European League. They have three home matches and then face a long break. This is a major economic factor for the clubs. We are looking at alternatives that would reduce this gap for the teams finishing third and fourth. There is a good proposal on the table which would also ensure that the break between the quarter-finals and the EHF FINAL4 Men in Cologne becomes shorter again.
eurohandball.com: Coming back to the investment fund. How will this be structured?
Michael Wiederer: The club competitions’ ecosystem has always worked on the premise that 80 per cent of the revenues generated are distributed back to the clubs. If beyond the guaranteed disbursements, a surplus – just like in the past years – was generated at the end of the season, this surplus was also distributed to the clubs according to existing criteria, for example costs in certain areas were taken over. The plan with the investment fund is to link 30 per cent of any surplus to investments related to the strategic development and future positioning of the club competitions. The competition will benefit from this, and so will the club and by this the entire ecosystem.
eurohandball.com: Will there also be additional changes to the women’s club competitions?
Michael Wiederer: We are starting with the changes that have already been approved. The new system in the EHF Champions League Women as of 2027/28 with four groups of four at the start and 24 teams in the EHF European League is the beginning. The objective is to strengthen the clubs in the EHF European League so that the foundation of clubs eventually being able to play EHF Champions League grows. In a mid-term perspective, the EHF strives to introduce the same system for the women’s club competitions as it is in place for the men, with 24 teams participating in the EHF Champions League.
eurohandball.com: In 2027, the contract with Budapest to host the EHF FINAL4 Women expires. What is the current situation?
Michael Wiederer: We have been in contact with the Hungarian Handball Federation as the local organiser. We all agree that the tournament is very well placed and received in Budapest, and that it brings added value to the competition and the city itself. However, of course, we need the continuous support for the event from the relevant stakeholders. We are currently in discussions about that.
eurohandball.com: The Executive Committee meeting also addressed national team competitions. What will change in the future?
Michael Wiederer: One of the most important decisions concerns the national team competitions’ media rights as of 2030+. As of this season, the EHF’s daughter, EHF Marketing, has taken the marketing of the club competition rights fully into their own hands. The EHF will follow suit and assume a significantly enhanced responsibility when it comes to the exploitation of media rights on the national team level. We receive very high interest from the media market which demonstrates that partners and media companies are keen to work with us to further develop our products.
eurohandball.com: One new product the EHF has recently announced are the European Handball Games in 2030. What is their status today?
Michael Wiederer: The event is firmly scheduled in the calendar for the second half of September 2030. We are already in contact and exchange with well-known, state-of-the-art handball venues to secure a top location for the premiere.
eurohandball.com: What are the next steps?
Michael Wiederer: In October, several stakeholder meetings will take place in Vienna. At those meetings, we will present key information, such as the qualification process. Alongside the European Handball Games, a new approach – similar to the UEFA’s Nations League – to the IHF World Championship Qualification Europe will be introduced. We want to provide the National Federations with more high-quality home matches. Our objective: To create high-quality competitions, and we want to make existing competitions even better.
eurohandball.com: What kind of response have the European Handball Games triggered outside the immediate handball ecosystem?
Michael Wiederer: The media organisations and rights holders we have been speaking to have shown great interest in the European Handball Games. The format will feature only top-level matches in a compact period over six days, and with men’s and women’s teams playing in parallel, this is an asset in itself. It will be a week of top-class handball – a celebration of the sport, much more than just a handball tournament. It will be a handball festival very much in the spirit of the previous EHF Congress: “Next level – every game”.
