Last hurrah for Moustafa – new IHF age limit ushers in a leadership shift in 2029

Hassan Moustafa was re-elected as president of the International Handball Federation by an overwhelming majority, securing another four-year term. But that will be the end of the road for the Egyptian – as Greece’s proposal to introduce an upper age limit of 75 for senior IHF positions was approved on Sunday.

Hassan Moustafa will continue to lead the IHF for the next four years. The 81-year-old has held the presidency since 2000 and will now remain in office until 2029, unless something unforeseen occurs.

The veteran was re-elected on Sunday in dominant fashion, comfortably beating challengers Gerd Butzeck, Franjo Bobinac and Tjark de Lange.

Age limit on the way

However, after these four years, Hassan Moustafa’s time at the top will be over. During the congress, Greece put forward a motion to introduce an upper age limit of 75 for senior positions within the IHF. Seventy percent of the congress voted in favour of the proposal, meaning that no official who has turned 75 on election day can be elected as president – or to any other senior position within the IHF, for that matter.

Unless the motion is repealed or replaced by a new proposal before 2029, the IHF will therefore have a new president in four years’ time.

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