Francisco Blázquez took charge as president of the Spanish Handball Federation (RFEBM) in April and "six months later, he has explained the current state of Spanish handball," according to Jesús Mínguez of AS. The Spanish Handball League's (ASOBAL) situation "is producing the most headaches for Blázquez," who warned, "If it continues like this, it is on the path to bankruptcy." The debt, which is estimated to be €2M ($2.7M), scheduling conflicts, ASOBAL side Atlético dissolving and the disappearance of TV rights "are making the competition nearly invisible." Blázquez said the "economic situation has forced him to require teams to pay membership fees" that have increased from €20,000 ($27,326) to €40,000 ($54,652). Blázquez added that clubs have received €450,000 ($614,800) from TV revenue and another €400,000 ($546,500) from int'l rights. The RFEBM president added, "But the teams are only fighting to recover sponsorships, and if they do not invest in the present, we are lost." Blázquez said, "My saddest day as president was when Atlético announced its disappearance." Blázquez nevertheless prefers to "see the glass half-full" (AS, 10/17).
