Swedish Handball Federation (SHF)

News Summary:

On July 16, 2026, the Swedish Handball Federation (SHF) criticized the International Handball Federation's (IHF) decision to fully readmit Russian athletes to international handball without restrictions. This move drew widespread criticism from political figures, including Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and the Swedish and Nordic sports movements, who argued it sends a wrong signal during Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Previously, on February 1, 2026, the European Handball Federation (EHF) changed its age classification for beach championships, making players born in 2009 and 2010 eligible for the July 1-5 tournament in Zagreb, overriding the SHF's original plan for players born in 2010 and 2011 to debut. Earlier, the national transfer window for players born in 2009 and older was scheduled to close on February 15, 2026, at 23:59:59, with a moratorium on transfers from February 16 to April 30, except as outlined in competition regulations. On January 19, 2026, the upcoming EM 2026 tournament on home soil was identified as a catalyst for promoting inclusion and sustainability in Swedish handball, emphasizing the "Hand the Ball" movement's focus on play, joy, and participation. This followed a January 18, 2026, meeting in Malmö where the SHF underscored collaboration, featuring a panel discussion on association development with representatives from clubs such as Lödde Vikings HK and IK Sävehof.