The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is “seriously mulling” expelling the eight-time Olympic gold medalists and former world champions from international competitions.
The national game is in disarray. A week after Indian hockey plunged into a moral crisis following player Ranjita Devi’s allegations of sexual harassment by coach MK Kaushik, the team risks being expelled from international events.
The Bombay high court on Wednesday stayed Hockey India (HI) elections for three weeks after questioning its legality. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is now “seriously mulling” expelling the eight-time Olympic gold medalists and former world champions from international competitions, the body’s president Leandro Negre said.
“We are left with very few options now. The FIH has a written agreement with HI that in case elections are not held by July 31, the national team will be expelled. I will wait for the report by my colleague Antonio von Ondarza (FIH vice-president and observer of the polls). Depending on that, we will take the final decision,” Negre told DNA from Barcelona. HI is likely to miss the deadline, the fourth since it was formed in April 2008.
According to the FIH constitution, a country without a properly elected hockey body is not eligible to participate in international events.
“We have been very lenient with HI so far. We have done everything we could to improve conditions in India. We decided to hold a big event in India every year. Sometimes, we feel we are doing more for Indian hockey than Hockey India,” Negre said.
“In a way it is frustrating. I know my friends in HI are trying their best, but I feel for the people of the country because they are so emotionally attached to the sport.”
“We are have done everything we could to conduct the elections. But in a way, even we are helpless. We want to comply with FIH statutes as soon as possible because we know if we can’t, India may be stopped from participating in the women’s World Cup,” Narendra Batra, secretary-general, HI.
In case the FIH acts tough, the immediate impact would be on the women’s team, which will not be allowed to compete in the World Cup, to be held next month in Rosario, Argentina. The men’s and women’s team would also be barred from competing in the Commonwealth and Asian Games, depending on the ban. The FIH decision is expected in a couple of days so as to give sufficient time for India’s replacement to prepare for the World Cup.
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