FIH official broadcaster contradicts Charlesworth on referrals

NEW DELHI: FIH official broadcaster on Monday contradicted Australian coach Ric Charlesworth, saying that the video umpire has footages shot from 11 angles to take a correct decision.

Charlesworth had said after his side’s 2-0 win over Spain on March 6 that it would be better if the video umpire had footages from different angles so that a correct decision is made in referrals.

Official FIH TV commentator and broadcasting consultant David Christison said that 11 cameras are being used in this hockey World Cup so that the video umpire can see as to what actually happened at the field.

“We have 11 cameras on the field and the video umpire can see footages from 11 angles if he wants. But normally four or five frames are enough to take a decision. If he wants more he can have shots from 11 angles,” Christison said at the broadcasting centre from where the footages are relayed to the video umpire’s room.

“Ric (Charlesworth) might be knowing this but he was not happy as he did not like certain decisions which went against his side,” Christison, an Australian, said.

“Six cameras are stationed along the 100-yard long main entry side of the stadium — two near the centre line, one near a team bench, one near the left corner and one in between the centre line and the corner on each half,” said Christison who was awarded a Diploma of Merit by the FIH for his contribution as official TV commentator in 2006.

One camera each is stationed behind the two goalposts, another at the centre line of the opposite stand and one camera each in between the corner flag and goalpost on each side.

“Camera numbers two and seven, which are stationed at the centre-line can take 100 frames per second. These two provide super slo-mo footages. The other nine can shoot at 25 frames per second,” Christison said.

He said not all the footages from the 11 cameras are shown on the giant screen at the stadium but the video umpire can have all the shots from 11 angles.

The video umpire’s room has a four screen electronic equipment and each screen is connected to specific cameras.

“Four shots which gives the best view of the actual incident is first provided on the four screens for the video umpire to take a decision. If he thinks the four shots are enough to take a decision that is it.

“If he wants more shots we provide him the other shots,” explained Christison, a well-known hockey expert who has done commentary in several top-flight competitions in Olympics, World Cup and Champions Trophy.

“The four screens are connected to specific cameras. For example the first screen connects to camera numbers three and four. The second, third and fourth connect to three cameras each,” he said.