“If independence is lost, credibility is gone,” says Swedish lawyer and IHF Council member Jörgen Holmqvist. As the International Handball Federation moves to establish its own Court of Arbitration, Holmqvist insists that the new institution must stand completely apart from the organisation it is meant to oversee.
Rumours and concerns about the independence of various IHF bodies have circulated for years, with critics suggesting that appointments are often subject to the approval of President Hassan Moustafa himself. When asked about this, Swedish lawyer and IHF Council member Jörgen Holmqvist doesn’t shy away from addressing the issue – instead, he points to a new initiative that could change how disputes in international handball are handled.
“In principle, such concerns are understandable,” Holmqvist told GoHandball. “I can only speak for the groups I’ve been involved in — I once left a group after realizing I was being voted down in every question and sensed something wasn’t right. But people like Jean Brihault, former EHF president, would never allow themselves to be influenced. Personally, I’m deeply committed to integrity.”
New International Handball Court of Arbitration in the works
That commitment now takes shape through the creation of the International Handball Court of Arbitration (IHCA), a new foundation approved by the IHF Council and developed together with the Swiss law firm Lenz Caemmerer. The foundation will be established under Swiss law, ensuring legal independence and external supervision.
“We’ve taken inspiration from the European Handball Federation, which set up a similar institution back in 2007–2008, where I served as the first chairman,” Holmqvist explained. “The important thing is that this new court must be at arm’s length from the IHF – it cannot be influenced or controlled. If it’s not clearly separated, credibility is gone.”
The statutes for the foundation have been drafted by Holmqvist and Markus Plazer, President of the Austrian Handball Federation. Once the IHF Congress approves the necessary amendments, the foundation will be launched, with Holmqvist expected to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Holmqvist also draws parallels to the early days of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS):
“When CAS was created, it was initially funded by the IOC – but they later distanced it completely to ensure independence. That’s the model we want to follow here.”
The IHF Council unanimously approved the proposal. If all goes as planned, the International Handball Court of Arbitration could be operational before 2027 – marking a significant shift toward greater transparency and integrity within international handball governance.