The 40th IHF Congress, which took place between 19 and 21 December in Cairo, Egypt, concluded with a series of elections that will define the strategic leadership of the International Handball Federation for upcoming four years. 176 delegates from around the world gathered to vote on the presidency, vice presidency, Executive Committee positions and the leadership of several IHF commissions and judicial bodies.

In the presidential election, Dr Hassan Moustafa (EGY) was convincingly re elected with 129 votes, or 73,3% of the votes, ahead of Franc Bobinac (SLO) with 24, Gerd Butzeck (GER) with 20 and Tjark de Lange (NED) with 3 votes, thereby extending his tenure as IHF President. 

For the position of 1st Vice President, Philippe Bana (FRA) received 106 votes, while Ali Mohamed Eshaqi (BRN) collected 68 votes, confirming Bana as the new First Vice President. Two members of the IHF Executive Committee – Narcisa Lecușanu (ROU) and Francisco V. Blázquez García (ESP) – were elected by acclamation, as both candidatures were unopposed.

The Congress also decided on the leadership of the sport’s key technical and organisational bodies. Pascal Jenny (SUI) was elected Chairperson of the Commission of Organising and Competition (COC) with 103 votes, ahead of the incumbent Per Bertelsen (DEN), who received 67 votes. Tomislav Grahovac (CRO) was confirmed as Chairperson of the Commission for Development (CD) with 100 votes, with Bruno Souza (BRA) receiving 76 votes. 

The positions of Treasurer and several commission chairs were filled without contest: Anna Rapp (SWE) as Treasurer, Per Morten Sødal (NOR) as Chairperson of the Playing Rules and Referees Commission (PRC), Dietrich Späte (GER) as Chairperson of the Commission of Coaching and Methods (CCM), and Dr Yannick Mossus (CMR) as Chairperson of the Medical Commission (MC).

Judicial bodies were also elected. Zoran Radojicic (MNE) was elected as Chairperson of the Arbitration Tribunal, with Pedro Mourao (POR), Alazne Giraldo Iglesias (ESP), Matea Horvat (CRO), Rémy Levy (FRA) and Barış Orhonlu (TUR) serving as members.

Lovro Badzim (CRO) became Chairperson of the Arbitration Commission, which will be composed of members including Mouadh Ben Zaied (TUN), Elena Borrás Alcaraz (ESP), Miguel Fernandes (POR), Elizabeth Ling Yang (HKG), Nicolae Luca (ROU) and Muhammad Amir Yousaf (PAK), with additional members to be confirmed. 

Hussein Moustafa Fathy (EGY) was elected Chairperson of the Ethics Commission. Finally, the Congress appointed Ulisses Pereira (POR) and Sebastjan Gergeta (SLO) as internal IHF auditors, with Şevket Altuğ Taşdemir (TUR) serving as substitute auditor, completing a comprehensive renewal of IHF governance.

40th IHF CONGRESS - Elections 

President
Dr Hassan MOUSTAFA (EGY) 

1st Vice-President
Mr Philippe BANA (FRA) 

Treasurer
Ms Anna Rapp (SWE) 

Two (2) members to the Executive Committee
Ms Narcisa LECUȘANU (ROU) 
Mr Francisco V. BLÁZQUEZ GARCÍA (ESP) 

Chairperson of Commission of Organising and Competition (COC)
Mr Pascal JENNY (SUI)  

Chairperson of Playing Rules and Referees Commission (PRC)
Mr Per Morten SØDAL (NOR) 

Chairperson of Commission of Coaching and Methods (CCM)
Mr Dietrich SPÄTE (GER) 

Chairperson of Medical Commission (MC)
Dr Yannick MOSSUS (CMR)  

Chairperson of Commission for Development (CD)
Mr Tomislav GRAHOVAC (CRO) 

Chairperson of Arbitration Tribunal 

Mr Zoran RADOJICIC (MNE)

Members of Arbitration Tribunal

Mr Pedro MOURAO (POR) 
Ms Alazne GIRALDO IGLESIAS (ESP) 
Ms Matea HORVAT (CRO) 
Mr Rémy LEVY (FRA) 
Mr Barış ORHONLU (TUR) 

Chairperson of Arbitration Commission

Mr Lovro BADZIM (CRO) 

Members of Arbitration Commission

Mr Mouadh BEN ZAIED (TUN) 
Ms Elena BORRÁS ALCARAZ (ESP) 
Mr Miguel FERNANDES (POR) 
Ms Elizabeth Ling YANG (HKG) 
Mr Nicolae LUCA (ROU) 
Mr Muhammad Amir YOUSAF (PAK) 

Chairperson of Ethics Commission

Mr Hussein Moustafa FATHY (EGY) 

Members of Ethics Commission

Mr José COSTA (POR) 
Mr Jorge PULIDO VÁZQUEZ (MEX) 

Internal IHF auditors and one substitute auditor 

Mr Ulisses PEREIRA (POR) 
Mr Sebastjan GERGETA (SLO) 

Substitute auditor: Mr Şevket Altuğ TASDEMIR (TUR)