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India raises umpiring concerns during hockey knockout clash against Great Britain
Hockey India has sent a representation to the Technical Delegate of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to express its serious concerns.
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Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey, Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh, and other managing members of Hockey India, along with IOA President PT Usha, / ImageCredits:TheHockeyIndia/X
As the 2024 Olympic hockey tournament's pivotal knockout round began on August 4, umpiring has been the target of criticism.
After criticism of the competition's umpiring following a contentious red card decision to an Indian player in the first quarterfinal, the second quarterfinal saw Spain shock defending champions Belgium 3-2. At the end of the match, there were some exchanges between floor umpires.
Ground umpires have the choice to consult the third umpire. In addition to rights vested in teams to seek video referrals, umpires can consult the third umpire in case of any doubt.
There has been no instance in the recent past where a player was awarded a red card early in the second quarter for an offence that could have been served with a lesser punitive award. Intriguingly, the victim team played the rest of the duration by holding its opponents to a draw and won the subsequent penalty shootout round.
Hockey India has sent a representation to the Technical Delegate of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to express its serious concerns. “Hockey India has officially raised concerns about the quality of umpiring and decision-making in the ongoing Paris Olympic Games 2024 (Men's tournament). The complaint focuses on a critical match between India and Great Britain, where several inconsistencies in officiating potentially influenced the game's outcome.
Key issues highlighted include:
1. Inconsistent video umpire reviews, particularly regarding the red card decision for an Indian player, which has eroded trust in the video review system.
2. Coaching of a goalkeeper from behind the goalpost during the shoot-out.
3. Use of a video tablet by a goalkeeper during the shoot-out.
"These incidents have undermined confidence in the officiating process among players, coaches, and fans. Hockey India calls for a thorough review of these matters to uphold the integrity of the sport and ensure fair play in future matches,” the organisation said in a statement.
In the game between Spain and Belgium, the last two minutes witnessed several protests, by both teams, over the ground umpiring. Doubting the fairness of the judgment of field umpires not only invites the ire of the fans who come to watch and enjoy the game but get disappointed with controversial judgments.
Some of the umpiring decisions can mar the reputation of a team besides impacting the career of players against whom decisions are pronounced through the ground umpire’s whistle.
“There is a need to minimise such controversial decisions. These are not only players, but umpires also play an effective role in making the game interesting and equitable,” remarked Jatinder Pal Singh, a hardcore hockey fan who played the sport in his school and college days.
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