Hockey India (HI) president Narinder Kumar Batra stuck to his stand that nothing less than a strong condemnation by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) of its players’ behaviour after the Champions Trophy semifinal shall be acceptable.
When conveyed the information, passed by Pakistan coach Shahnaz Shiekh, that the PHF had mailed him an “apology”, Batra said to The Hindu on Monday that he was yet to see what the mail was about. “I am in Tirupati and my office is closed. I am yet to see the mail,” he added.
Would an apology satisfy the HI? “Not the Shahnaz Shiekh kind of apology. He said the team was sorry for the incident. What does he mean by saying just sorry? It was a shameful display by his players to hurt our sentiments and not at all acceptable.
“No decent person would tolerate such indecent on-field behaviour by sportsmen. And what was he sorry for? His players deserved to be condemned and I demand a strong condemnation of them by the PHF. Nothing else is acceptable,” said a furious Batra.
Following its 4-3 victory, some Pakistan players had indulged in obscene celebrations. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) had initially dealt with the incident leniently and let off the players with mere warning. Only when the HI issued a strong statement, demanding strict action, did FIH suspend two players for the final. “There were more than two players who indulged in that vulgar demonstration,” said Batra.
Critical of FIH“The FIH delay in handing punishment was not acceptable at all. If FIH thought it was fit enough to be dealt with lightly, then I am sorry we won’t accept it. It shows the sorry state of affairs in FIH. We are working hard to popularise the game and such incidents don’t help our efforts. It may be acceptable to FIH, such indecent celebrations, but not to us,” Batra affirmed. Batra said he was “appalled” at the initial reaction of the Pakistan coach. “He informed our CEO (Elena Norman) that his players were only doing bhangra (celebratory dance). If this was bhangra, then surely the hockey coach was not serious when he said he was sorry. It is ridiculous of him to say sorry if it was just bhangra. I insist on a strong condemnation of its insolent players by the PHF,” he said.
What if the PHF apology did not meet the expectations of HI? “Then, goodbye to India-Pakistan hockey. No bilateral or tri-series with Pakistan. They will be unwelcome in India for sure,” Batra concluded.
