Hockey India won’t hesitate to sack agitating players

Vijay Lokapally

Action will be taken only as a last resort, assures A.K. Mattoo

I wish I knew what went wrong: Mattoo

Officials expected to fly to Pune on Tuesday

NEW DELHI: Hockey India, as a last resort, is prepared to sack the agitating players if they don’t fall in line with the authorities on the issue of putting on hold their demands for “dues and incentives.” A message to this effect has been conveyed to the players in Pune.

Hockey India President A.K. Mattoo promised to take action only as a “last resort, only if I am left with no other option. We can take that decision today, tomorrow or the day after

“The players have been boycotting the World Cup preparatory camp demanding payment of “dues.”

Mattoo said on Monday: “I wish I knew what went wrong as everything was sorted out (on Saturday). I see no reason why they have taken this route. We could have considered their demands only if we were able to generate the resources for it. I believe they are being misled. We are concerned over this but are hopeful that the players will see reason.”

Mattoo is expected to fly to Pune on Tuesday along with HI officials Narender Batra, Harish Sharma, Rajeev Mehta and Jagbir Singh. The International Hockey Federation Vice-President Antonio von Ondarza has expressed desire to join them and try and impress upon the players the need to resolve the issue.

“We will negotiate because we don’t have an agenda. We will see how it goes. If they don’t relent, we will take action,” said a key HI official, who also said the FIH was not in favour of taking a lenient view on this issue.

Kid gloves come off

HI has adopted a tough stand after having initially dealt with the players with soft gloves. “This is nothing but betrayal. They must remember that hockey needs them most at this stage and so does the country. It is hockey that has brought them where they are. They are known only because of hockey. The same applies to me. But this is sad. We did not expect this from them especially after they understood the reality as far as finances are concerned. We had assured them that once the new body comes into being we would see to it that their demands are met at the earliest,” said Olympian and former captain Ajitpal Singh.

Endorsing Ajitpal’s views, Olympian Zafar Iqbal noted, “We agree money should be given. The players also need security for their future but this is not the way to go about it. No federation in the world pays its players. The money and incentives come from the government. They also know the truth as far as the financial reserves of HI are concerned. Nothing was hidden from them when we met. The players should presently concentrate on the World Cup preparations.”

‘Wrong means’

Similar views were shared by Olympian Pargat Singh. “Their demands are genuine but the method is wrong. The players have been asking for better facilities and payment for long now. But such things should be solved through talks. The country’s prestige is at stake. But we will have to be careful because we don’t have replacements,” he said.

An HI official, who has been part of the negotiations, confirmed, “The players will invite stringent punishment if they don’t resume training from tomorrow. If we suspend the players, the government departments they are employed with would also be taking subsequent action.”

Von Ondarza noted, “I learnt about the problems of the players only after arriving here last night. It is very sad to see this kind of thing. It is something that should not have happened. Hockey is not a sport with billions of dollars. We are not football or basketball though we would like to become one. Whether the players have received money or not, going on strike and not wanting to train is unheard of. We have to work hard for the World Cup.”

Von Ondarza did not support the players going on strike. “India’s (players’) main aim should be the India shirt. I hope HI can sort this issue out. There is nothing more we can do. You have to train for the World Cup and later you can’t complain if you don’t get good results. This issue has to be sorted out quickly. The World Cup is at our doors,” he said.