Harpal Singh Bedi/ Bhubaneswar
Coach Harendra Singh’s vitriolic attack on the umpires after India lost to the Netherlands in the quarter finals of the Hockey World Cup is going to cost him dear, FIH hinted on Saturday.
Taking a tough stand International Hockey Federation (FIH) CEO Weil Thierry told media persons that the federation has taken a very serious view of the outburst.” We will not review anything, what we will review is complaints made against the umpires. That is not acceptable”
The coach after the defeat had squarely held the umpires responsible for the defeat and to that Thierry’s reaction was that “If you lose, you have to accept it and look forward”.
“I think the beauty of sports in, principle is that you have a winner and a loser. The day you win, you are happy. The day you lose, you are sad, which I understand. Even Argentina team cried on the bench, “
“When you lose, what you have to do? You have to look forward to play better and win next time. To blame umpires is not the hockey style. I would just recommend (that) and definitely say umpires have a tough job, decision to be made within seconds. It (questioning umpires) is not acceptable.
FIH president Narinder Batra who was present at the press conference fully supported his CEO and said “They (umpires) have only two eyes…what Thierry already said is they are doing a job, a thankless job. Be graceful whether you win or lose. You have to accept their decision.
“Being the FIH President I have to follow certain protocols and I have my strong reservations against this kind of behaviour. A sport has to be played in the right spirit,” he added.
Harendra’s job has been under the scanned ever since India failed to defend its Asian Games title in Jakarta and the World Cup was his last opportunity.
Batra, who also heads the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and was former chief of Hockey India further indicated that some radical changes are on the offing.
“I am here till the 17th December and then I will return to Delhi. After 17th I will give my statement on the issue as NOC (National Olympic Committee) President,” he said.
Batra was visibly pleased with the conduct of the World Cup at Bhubaneswar saying “From the feedback We at FIH have received so far, it has been a fantastic tournament. There has been an all-round appreciation about the way crowd has behaved and about the superb Infrastructure.