Continuity has won the day at the IHF Congress 2025. Hassan Moustafa has been re-elected as President of the International Handball Federation, extending an era that has shaped global handball for more than two decades.
The outcome confirms what many delegates anticipated: a preference for stability over structural change. With the vote concluded, Moustafa begins yet another four-year term at the helm of the IHF – a position he has held since 2000, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in international sport.
In the lead-up to the Congress, criticism of IHF governance, transparency, and democratic processes has been a recurring theme, including in previous GoHandball coverage. Calls for reform grew louder in 2025, particularly around decision-making structures and the concentration of power within the federation.
Despite this, the majority of national federations ultimately chose experience and familiarity over the other candidates Gerd Butzeck, Franjo Bobinac, and Tjark de Lange.
Chaos in Cairo
The voting process was chaotic with wi-fi issues and voting members not being logged into the system, which delayed the process. After the first test vote it was noted that only 134 of 176 nations voted, due to the technical issues. Shortly after, only 120 member nations were logged into the voting system.
This went on for a while. And then the voting started it was clear that it would take 89 votes on someone else than Hassan Moustafa in order for the IHF to elect a new president.
Ultimately Moustafa won again
Supporters of Moustafa point to the sport’s global expansion, commercial growth, and improved visibility as key arguments for continuity. Major events have grown in scale, and handball has strengthened its Olympic position during his tenure. For many smaller federations, that stability remains a decisive factor. And the Egyptian won the vote for a consecutive seventh time.
At the same time, the re-election raises familiar questions. How much longer can the IHF delay deeper governance reforms? And how will the federation respond to growing demands for transparency, accountability, and modernization from within the handball community?
As outlined in earlier GoHandball articles ahead of the Congress, this election was not only about leadership – but about the direction of the sport. With Moustafa remaining in charge, the responsibility now lies with the IHF to prove that continuity does not mean stagnation.
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