NEW DELHI: Field hockey’s world governing body has warned India it could miss the London Olympics even if it qualifies due to an ongoing tussle over who runs the sport in the country.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) said it was not in favour of a settlement brokered by the Indian sports ministry that would see rival bodies Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) jointly run the game.
In a letter to the sports ministry, FIH president Leandro Negre said his federation only recognised Hockey India as the governing body for the sport which had exclusive authority to enter national teams in international events.
The FIH wants the government of India to “advise HI and IHF not to proceed with the implementation of their broad arrangement,” Negre wrote in the letter dated September 27.
The FIH also wants the Indian government to settle the money owed to it for organising the World Cup in New Delhi in March last year.
“If the above is achieved… there will be no more concerns about the participation of Indian hockey team in FIH-sanctioned competitions such as London 2012 Olympic Games,” Negre wrote.
The FIH had earlier this month taken away the elite eight-nation Champions Trophy from India and awarded the hosting rights to New Zealand over the same governance issues.
Meanwhile, taking a serious note of FIH’s threat to stop India’s participation in London Olympics if issues relating to the game’s governance in the country were not resolved, the IOA has convened an urgent meeting of Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation here on October 4.
The meeting will discuss issues raised by the FIH in its letter to Sports Secretary, Sindhusree Khullar and will try to find out an amicable solution to the satisfaction of all, IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said in a statement today.
“I am quiet hopeful that in the interest of the country and the game, the matter will be resolved,” he said.
“My optimism is based on my talks with FIH president Leandro Negre here last month, during which I made IOA’s stand very clear on the issues raised by him,” he said.
“IOA is totally committed to the IOC charter which clearly states only one association for one sports. I told Mr Negre in no uncertain terms that we do not approve of two federations for one game, be it hockey or any other discipline,” he added.
The IOA president, however, expressed surprise over FIH’s dependency on the government in resolving the dispute.
“The IOC charter, by which FIH also swears, clearly states that government should not intervene in the dispute of a federation where the NOC is looking into it.
“IOA is keenly monitoring the developments relating to hockey and recognises HI as the sole body for the game, so why FIH wants to involve the government?” Malhotra questioned.
“IOA is the supreme sports body in the country and all the national federations and associations function under it. No body can function without its approval and recognition so FIH’s fetish to insist on government intervention, which clearly goes against the IOC charter is surprising,” he added. The FIH letter, signed by president Leandro Negre, mentions seven issues, including the payment India owe to FIH with regard to hosting of the 2010 World Cup. It said that all lawsuits relating to the governance of hockey “must be finally resolved and terminated.” (Agencies)