The International Handball Federation (IHF) is proud to announce today an official partnership with DEKRA, as the Official Referee Partner for the IHF Men’s and Women’s World Championships until at least 2027, a partnership brokered by SPORTFIVE, the exclusive marketer of global media and marketing rights for all IHF Men's and Women's World Championship through 2031.

This collaboration spans at least four editions of the world handball flagship competition, highlighting DEKRA’s dedication to supporting the sport of handball. DEKRA, as the Official Referee Partner, will gain significant brand exposure through prominent placement on referee jerseys, LED board advertising, and other venue branding opportunities, while also reinforcing the fair play message before each game.

The first competition in which DEKRA will appear as Official Referee Partner is the Men's Handball World Championship, which begins on 14 January 2025, ending on 2 February 2025 in Denmark, Croatia and Norway. The IHF Women's World Championship will then follow in November and December 2025 in Germany and the Netherlands. In January 2027, the men's world championship will be played in Germany, while in December 2027, the women will play for the world title in Hungary.

"Fair play and adherence to the rules are just as important in sport as they are in everyday life. In handball, the referees ensure that this happens; as a technical expert organization, this is our job when it comes to safety on the road, at work, and at home,” says DEKRA CEO Stan Zurkiewicz. ”The referees and DEKRA share the values of neutrality, expert knowledge, and accuracy. Furthermore, handball is a sport in which fair play is particularly highly valued. So we are a perfect match as partners.”

“The IHF is proud to welcome DEKRA to the handball family. By joining us for the IHF Men's and Women's World Championships, DEKRA prove their trust in handball, as we hope to build a fruitful, long-lasting partnership in collaboration with our TV and Marketing Rights Partner, Sportfive. We are certain that handball fans will identify our common penchant for quality. With many DEKRA key markets being leading countries in handball, the visibility in the arenas, as well as on TV, will be a key factor of the development of both DEKRA and handball”, states Dr. Hassan Moustafa, the President of the IHF.

“Handball is an absolute crowd-puller in many countries across Europe, particularly at the major tournaments, which are mostly broadcast on free-to-air TV. DEKRA is active in these countries and can therefore make optimal use of the large spectator response that is to be expected”, says Uta Leitner, Executive Vice President Communications and Brand Management at DEKRA. “We are delighted and proud that DEKRA is prominently involved in the upcoming international highlights of this popular sport.”

“This partnership underscores the global appeal and growing stature of handball as one of the world’s most dynamic sports,” said Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE. “Facilitating DEKRA’s role as the Official Referee Partner not only strengthens their connection to the values of integrity and precision embodied by the referees but also reinforces the close and fruitful collaboration between SPORTFIVE and the IHF. Together, we are committed to elevating the visibility and reach of handball on the international stage.”