The International Handball Federation  mourns the passing of Pablo Permuy Villanueva, who died at the age of 69 after a long illness. A figure of influence in Spanish and international refereeing, Permuy dedicated his life to the sport of handball, leaving behind a remarkable legacy.

Born in Lugo, Spain, Permuy’s journey in handball began as a player and coach, but it was as a referee where he made his greatest mark. Over the course of 22 seasons, he became one of the most respected referees in Spain, whistling matches at the highest levels of the game. 

A former IHF referee, Permuy was delegated to the IHF Women’s World Championship in 1997 and 2001 and also to the IHF Men’s Junior World Championship throughout his refereeing career. After retiring from his refereeing career, Permuy transitioned into leadership and development roles, serving as president of the Galician Referees Committee (2013–2016) before becoming president of the Technical Referees Committee of the Royal Spanish Handball Federation (RFEBM).

Between 2016 and 2021, he spearheaded reforms in referee education, promoted consistency in the interpretation of rules, and strengthened ties between Spanish refereeing and international bodies. 

He also served as an IHF Delegate, with the last competition being the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship in Poland and Sweden.

“Pablo has been a central figure for our sport, both nationally and internationally. He was respected, appreciated, and has left a lasting legacy for all of us who had the privilege of working with him,” said RFEBM President Francisco V. Blázquez, reflecting on the impact of Permuy’s work.  

The IHF President, Dr Hassan Moustafa, extends its deepest condolences to Pablo Permuy’s family, friends, colleagues, and to the Spanish handball community.