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On 1 September, Gastão Englert will become the new President of the International Fistball Association (IFA). He is the first Brazilian to head the world federation. Jörn Verleger, IFA President since 2019, will remain with the federation in a new role.
The International Fistball Association (IFA) has completed its announced change at the top of the federation: After six years as President of the Fistball World Federation, Jörn Verleger from Germany has handed over the baton to Gastão Englert. Until now, Englert served as 1st Vice President and will now become the 7th President of the IFA. As the first Brazilian, he holds the highest office in world fistball and will lead the IFA until the regular Congress in 2027. Verleger will, however, continue to be actively involved in international fistball.
“On behalf of the International Fistball Association, I would like to sincerely thank our outgoing President Jörn Verleger for his outstanding work and his extraordinary commitment over the past ten years,” said IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner. “I am very pleased that he will continue to be part of the IFA and will support us with his experience and network. At the same time, I wish our new President, Gastão Englert, all the best for his new role. With him, we have found an ideal successor who knows the sport of fistball from many perspectives and has gained valuable experience both in management and in sports. He will receive full support and can rely on a strong team at his side.”
Jörn Verleger: A decade of dedication to international fistball
As the first German, Jörn Verleger was elected in August 2019 as the 6th President of the International Fistball Association and was re-elected in 2023. Previously, he served as IFA Secretary General from 2015 to 2019 and before that led the Future Development Working Group. Now, two years before the statutory end of his term, he is stepping down from the IFA’s front line.
From the beginning of his tenure, Verleger worked for the international networking and recognition of the sport. He played a key role in organizing major events, including the Women’s World Championship 2018 in Linz and the Men’s World Championship 2023 in Mannheim, where for the first time finals were held in an indoor arena on natural grass. In addition, during his presidency, fistball achieved the inclusion of the women’s competition in the World Games in 2022. Just a few weeks ago in Chengdu (China), more fistball players than ever before – with eight women’s and eight men’s teams – took part in the multi-sport event.
“I would like to thank all colleagues who have supported me over the past ten years in my efforts to increase the awareness and popularity of the sport of fistball,” said Verleger. The issues of global presence of fistball, sustainability in sport, and the fight against doping are matters close to his heart. Through his networking within the international sports world, he managed to raise the popularity of fistball worldwide. Verleger: “It was an honor for me to serve the IFA in this role.”
Verleger will also continue to remain part of international fistball. At the request of the new IFA President Gastão Englert, the Grünwald-based official will continue to serve the IFA as honorary Executive Director, handling international representation tasks as well as administrative responsibilities within the IFA. This was confirmed by the IFA Presidium. “I look forward to continuing to support the fistball family, particularly in the areas of sustainability, anti-doping, para-fistball, and the international work of the IFA,” said Verleger.
Gastão Englert: First Brazilian President of the IFA
The successor as President of the International Fistball Association is Gastão Englert, who thus becomes the 7th President in the history of the world federation and the first Brazilian to hold this office. Englert has experienced the sport of fistball from many perspectives – first as a player, then as a coach, referee, and official in various committees.
As head coach of the Brazilian men’s national team, he led them to two World Championship titles and one World Games victory. He also won a World Championship with the women’s national team. His club teams collected numerous titles, including eight World Cup victories. He is the only coach in the history of fistball to win all the major titles in both men’s and women’s competitions: World Championships, World Games, and World Cups.
Alongside his sporting career, Englert studied sports science at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and specialized at the German Sport University Cologne. He ran a non-profit tennis foundation, Fundação Tênis, for over 21 years, which shaped the lives of more than 4,000 children and young people.
His international significance for the sport of fistball is reflected in numerous leadership roles within the International Fistball Association. As Chairman of the Sports Commission, Director for Olympic Education, and Head of the International Referees Commission, he contributed significantly to the global development of the sport. In addition, he serves as President of the Pan American Fistball Association (PAFA) and is actively engaged in Olympic education as a member of the International Pierre du Coubertin Committee. For his contributions, Gastão Englert was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin 150th Anniversary Medal.
As of 1 September 2025, Englert has officially assumed the presidency of the International Fistball Association. During the World Games in Chengdu, he already took the opportunity to establish international contacts with other sports federations as well as with the umbrella organization AIMS. “It is a great honor for me to assume the office of President of the International Fistball Association as the first Brazilian. Fistball has shaped my life for many decades – as a player, coach, referee, and official. Now to take on this responsibility fills me with pride and gratitude.”
Already in recent years, Englert has been deeply involved in the work of the IFA as a member of the Executive Board. He now intends to build on this in his new role: “My goal is to further advance the international development of fistball together with all continental federations, nations, clubs, and athletes. We want to expand the global reach of our sport, strengthen our core values of Friendship, Excellence, and an Athlete-Centered approach, and make fistball an experience for people all over the world. I very much look forward to working with our strong team within the IFA and engaging in dialogue with the global fistball family. Together, we will lead this wonderful sport into a successful future.”
