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DEKRA: Official Referee Partner for International and European Handball Championships

DEKRA is increasingly visible on the international handball stage as the Official Referee Partner of international tournaments from the IHF and EHF. As a long-standing and trusted partner in safety, security and sustainability, we are proud to support the values of the sport and referees: neutrality, expertise and precision.

Official Referee Partner of the World Championships

DEKRA is the Official Referee Partner of the IHF World Championships. This includes the Men’s IHF World Championship 2025 in Croatia, Denmark and Norway, as well as the 2027 tournament in Germany. In addition, DEKRA supports the Women’s IHF World Championship 2025 in Germany and the Netherlands, and 2027 in Hungary.
As part of the sponsorship, the DEKRA logo will be prominently featured on referee jerseys during all matches of all tournaments. Additionally, the sponsoring includes LED advertising in arenas and fair play messages before every match.

The referees and DEKRA share the values of neutrality, expertise, and precision.

Stan Zurkiewicz, Chairman of the Management Board DEKRA e.V. and DEKRA SE
“Fair play and respect for rules are just as important in sport as they are in everyday life. In handball, referees ensure this – just as DEKRA does as a technical inspection organization when it comes to safety on the roads, at work, and in private life,” says DEKRA CEO Stan Zurkiewicz. “Referees and DEKRA share the same values: neutrality, expertise, and precision. Handball is a sport where fair play holds special significance which makes us the perfect partner.”
“By participating in the IHF Men’s and Women’s World Championships, DEKRA demonstrates its trust. We are confident that handball fans will recognize our shared commitment to quality,” says the President of the IHF Dr. Hassan Moustafa.
A male referee wearing a jersey with the DEKRA logo on it
Female referees wearing a jersey with the DEKRA logo on it
  • The display above the handball court showing the fair play message
  • Handball players during a match
  • Handball players during a match

Partnership with the EHF

DEKRA is also a strong and reliable partner of the European Handball Federation (EHF). Uta Leitner, Executive Vice President Communications and Brand Management at DEKRA, emphasizes the importance of shared values like fair play: “The core values of the game – above all fair play and rule awareness – fit perfectly with our brand philosophy. The positive feedback from the Men’s World Championship 2025 has shown how strongly our commitment is perceived. The partnership with the EHF at the European level is the logical next step.”
The partnership includes the Men’s EHF EURO 2026, which will take place in Denmark, Sweden and Norway in January and February, as well as the Women’s EHF EURO 2026 in Eastern Europa (Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Turkey). DEKRA's presence will be visible at the European Championships on referee kits, in the video review areas, via LED perimeter advertising and in the fair play message shown before every match.

“We are very pleased to have DEKRA as a strong partner at our side.”

Michael Wiederer, EHF President
EHF President Michael Wiederer remarks that the partnership is a solid foundation for the future: „We are very pleased to have DEKRA as a strong partner at our side for the EHF EURO 2026 tournaments. Together with DEKRA, we want to work over the coming months to successfully implement our shared goals – so that this first partnership lays the foundation for a long-term collaboration.”

Referee Partner of all other EHF competitions

In July 2025, DEKRA expanded its cooperation and is now also the Official Referee Partner across a wide range of competitions – including the EHF Champions League, the EHF European League, youth national team tournaments, and the EHF Wheelchair Handball Championship. This extensive partnership covers around 1,300 individual matches per season and will initially run for two seasons, through mid-2027.
The sponsorship will focus on DEKRA branding on the clothing of referees. LED perimeter advertising will be added for youth national team competitions such as the Men's 20 EHF EURO and Women's 19 EHF EURO.

“We are particularly pleased to actively support the EHF with our expertise in the field of sustainability.”

Uta Leitner, Executive Vice President Communications and Brand Management at DEKRA
In addition to the sponsorship, the cooperation also includes sustainability services commissioned by the EHF. “In addition to visibility for our brand, we are particularly pleased to actively support the EHF with our expertise in the field of sustainability”, says Uta Leitner, Executive Vice President Communications and Brand Management at DEKRA. “This will turn the collaboration into a genuine, active partnership.”

DEKRA strengthens its handball commitment – from World Championships to European club competitions

Official Referee Partner at all levels of international handball

DEKRA is continuing to expand its long-standing commitment to handball. As Official Referee Partner, DEKRA supports not only European club and youth competitions but also international highlights such as the IHF Men’s and Women’s World Championships.
Following the successful presence at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, DEKRA will also accompany the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship in Germany and the Netherlands. The partnership continues through to the 2027 world championships.
This long-term commitment underlines the shared values between DEKRA and the role of referees in sports: neutrality, professionalism, fairness, and precision. DEKRA is present with its logo on referee kits, LED advertising in arenas, and fair play messages before every match.

New partnership with the European Handball Federation (EHF)

Since 2024, DEKRA has also been the Official Referee Partner of the European Handball Federation (EHF). The partnership covers all major competitions, including:
  • EHF Champions League
  • EHF European League
  • Youth national team tournaments
  • EHF Wheelchair Handball Championship
In total, DEKRA supports more than 1,300 matches per season, with the partnership running at least through mid-2027. The agreement also includes sustainability support, for example in tournament planning, environmental responsibility, and explicit fair play communication.

DEKRA’s visibility in handball

  • Referee kits: DEKRA’s logo appears on all official referee clothing.
  • Fair play message: Before every match, referees deliver a short fair play statement – supported by DEKRA.
  • Brand presence: DEKRA is visible on digital advertising boards and TV broadcasts during major competitions.

Conclusion

Through its commitment to handball – from grassroots to world stage – DEKRA promotes values it lives by every day: neutrality, expertise, precision, and responsibility. From the IHF World Championships to European competitions, DEKRA is proud to support the referees who ensure fairness on the court.