Hockey India to incorporate new FIH rules from June 1

The Hockey India (HI) Executive Board on Saturday decided to incorporate the new international hockey federation (FIH) rules in its domestic circuit from June 1.

The FIH, March 20, introduced major changes to the sport by reducing the 70-minute game to 60 minutes comprising four 15-minute quarters instead of two 35-minute halves. The changes in the international calendar will come into effect September 1.

"It was decided that the newly announced FIH tournament rules and regulations featuring four quarters of 15 minutes each will be introduced in India in all domestic tournaments June 1. Similar regulations have successfully been implemented in the Hockey India League (HIL)," said an HI release.

In its 22nd board meeting, HI took some more major decisions in the functioning of the sport in the country.

Firstly, it was decided that the 2014 HIL tournament director Bjorn Isberg and umpires manager Craig Gribble will also officiate in the next edition in 2015. The board has also appointed Sports Mechanics to provide video analysts to its national teams.

In another significant decision, the federation decided to relegate Hockey Andhra Pradesh from the permanent member category to associate member for changing their president without any intimation.

Permanent member Hockey Delhi was, however, disaffiliated on similar grounds while Hockey Hyderabad was disaffiliated as an associate as they are not an active member, barring them from any participation in the national championships.

Meanwhile, Food Corporation of India's (FCI) associate membership was ratified.

The board also decided to introduce a new membership category -- Hoc-Key Member -- for Under-15 teams with Hockey Citizen XI's membership being ratified in the category.

R.D.T. Academy, Chennai, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Academy, Punjab, Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy, Nehru-NDMC Hockey Academy and Hubli Hockey Academy were also added.

Meanwhile, HI secretary general Narinder Batra was given authority to take further action on the matter of Harbir Singh Sandhu, who was denied visa for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, only after consultation with Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Sandhu was also denied a British visa on three previous occasions -- in 2008 he was denied a work visa, in 2009 a student study visa and in 2012 a visa for London Olympics.