Sävehofs criticism of the Association after the change: Completely wrong – Göteborgs-Posten

The European Handball Federation, EHF, has decided that Sweden loses their right place for the group stage of the Champions League – a decision greeted with surprise at Sävehof.

– it came as a total surprise and it feels as if the change comes at absolutely the wrong time, says club director Stefan Albrechtsson.

Sweden is currently being discussed eleven in the EHF’s national rankings and previously the twelve main countries champion received a direct place for the Champions League group stage. But during a meeting last week decided EHF to change the eligibility rules.

From next season, the two leading countries in national rankings have two direct places to the tournament, while the countries in place 3-10 get one, which means that Sweden will not.

– I was surprised and it came as a total surprise to me. A few years ago I had been able to understand that they had wanted tight to it, but now it feels like it is completely the wrong time, said Stefan Albrecht’s son.

Are you going to act in any way?

– Now they’ve already made the decision and it’s not much we can do about it, but obviously we will express our views. We want answers to why they have taken this decision. If we get it, it will be easier to accept, he said.

Arne Elovsson, vice president of the EHF, believes that the decision taken to make qualifying and the main event smoothly.

– the teams from the top-ranking nations has been considered too strong to qualify. It does not get much play when, for example Györi, who qualified for the group stage of this year and is now in the quarterfinals, faced a low ranked team, he says.

But is there not a danger that this means that the gap between the law rather becomes greater than the tournament becomes smoother?

– It’s leveling, of course. Since it is also about the law to meet the criteria regarding logistics, crowds and television coverage of the tournament to hold a high status. But primarily tävlingskommitén taken this decision with the sporting basis.

Do you understand Sävehofs comments?

– Yes, Sweden has always been on the verge of getting

a direct place, but wherever you draw the line so someone will end up in, he says.

If Sävehof defends SM-gold this year, is after all a chance to CL games next season. Who gets the four remaining spots at the tournament, which is to be determined by the qualifying or the EHF themselves decide what it will be.

– Most likely, the two teams will be selected based on rankings, as well as criteria related to logistics, spectators and television guarding, while it becomes a qualifier for the remaining places, says Elovsson.

given the rankings, so is a Swedish team well?

– Yes, it is probable. If a Swedish team would end up in qualifying, they will be offered a home advantage. Earlier raffled this, but nowadays it is the district rankings.