Michael Nobbs: Its hollow victory, Pak players don’t agree

India v Pakistan concluded with a victory for Pakistan but not before huge drama happened at the pitch.

In the 67th minute, Danish Mujtaba missed an easy goal right in front of the post. Immediately after, a Pakistani player elbowed an Indian player and the Korean umpireShin Dong Yun, signaled a penalty stroke.

With Pakistani players protesting, this umpire consulted for the opinion of the third umpire. After the talks were over, this umpire over-ruled his decision and took back the stroke and instead awarded a 16-yard hit to Pakistan.

All the Indian players surrounded him and argued with him quite a bit. After the argument didn’t work outin favor of India the players decided to move-off from the field.
In front of a full stadium, India left the field. The spectators waited unsure of what has actually happened.

Few minutes later, the umpire blew the whistle signaling resumption of play without the Indian team. Pakistan players just stood at their positions and remained still.

Seconds later, the Indian team was back at the turf again. They played for the remaining three-odd minutes and the full-time hooter signaled celebration for the Pakistan team.

The Indian team was visibly disappointed and stayed together at the bench. Coach Nobbs and the manager, Clarance Lobo had a shocked and a disappointed look at their face.
The Indian team received their medals but didn’t come forward to receive the runners-up trophy.

Michael Nobbs was disappointed with the umpires. He said, “The match was a very good Hockey match spoiled by some very disgraceful umpiring. I think the standard of the play was way above the standard of the umpires. It’s a hollow victory for Pakistan. The video clearly shows that it was penalty stroke. How do you get an umpire to change his decision when the other umpire is 50 meters away? He is right in front of the situation, the Pakistanis mobbed him and he changed his mind. Explain me how can it occur? For our boys, we are improving and we finished well. I don’t think we deserved a finish like that. It’s a clear case of having the requirement of video-referrals for top teams.”

Sardara Singh was also upset the umpires decision to roll-back the awarding of a penalty-stroke.

“In the whole tournament, these people never referred to the third umpire. When they refer, they don’t check the video. What will the third umpire know when he is sitting so far off with so much happening out there? The umpire was five yards away from it happened.”

On the other hand, Pakistan’s midfielder, Tousiq Mohammad said, “This is umpire’s decision. We can’t comment on it. Umpires can also mistakes. It was good on India’s part to come out and complete the game and show their sportsman spirit.”

Tousiq Mohammad played it down. He said, “It happens in India-Pakistan game. I don’t think there were any umpiring mistakes.”

Imran Butt, Pakistan’s goalkeeper also played it down. He said, “This is the decision of umpiring committee. Sometime they rule in your favor, other times they don’t. Umpires will be knowing better about their decisions.”

Pakistan’s captain Mohammad Imran said, “Even if there was a mistake in umpiring, making mistakes is a part of the game.”

Responding to Nobbs comment that this is a hollow victory for Pakistan, Imran said, “This is his opinion. Some time back we won in the Champions Trophy too. If India has lost, he should accept that India has lost.”

Note: This article has a pure collection of perspective of various people. The writer hasn’t pronounced his own judgment in any sense.