Integrity of Sports: Interesting but intrigue interpretation of FIH, our DOUBTS thereof.

The FIH has rightly felt, while relocating the Delhi Champions Trophy to New Zealand, that it is always tough decisions to shift tournaments. Yes, the sentiment is understood. It has nearly said the same when in 2007 an edition allotted to another Asian country, Pakistan, had to be shifted to Malaysia. Since these were the two occasions the prestigious asset of the FIH had to be shifted in the recent past, a peep in to the circumstances and consequences of these shifting give us interesting insight into the things, especially with respect to ‘integrity’ of sports.

Among other reasons the parent body touted for shifting is to safeguard the ‘integrity’ the sport they govern. Perhaps its first time the FIH comes out with a phrase like this; and it needs to be analysed and understood in its true perspective in order to see whether the philosophy is rightly conceived or used to deceive a deceit.

Being the global governing body the FIH has every right to define, profess, preach, and safeguard ‘integrity’ of hockey whatever is its purported meaning. The one solid reason which the FIH gave us for shifting the CT is the hosts not having a single controlling body and its affects the ‘integrity’ of global hockey. Ok

If the hosts do not have a controlling body of FIH’s like, does it mean the sports’ integrity should come into play? It seems so. Because, the control of hockey in India has been rested with Hockey India, not because of FIH, but because Supreme Court of India, which has allowed it to function on ad hoc basis. The court is yet to pass a final verdict. It means that there is no full-pledged, legally sustainable body to run in hockey in India for at least three years. In this period, An Asian event (Jr. Asia Cup), an invitational tournament (Punjab Gold Cup) and an event of such magnitude as World Cup had been staged in India. Even in the run up to the Commonwealth Games, as closely as a week before, there was uncertainty as to HI or IHF will be the official body for India. Still, despite all double-body fuss, the events were held – not just held, but on a grand scale.

Because, anybody who knows Indian hockey knows that the National Sports Federation insofar as hockey is concerned is only a formality, or at best merely the face, while right from stadium to sales, food bills to player footwear bill all being met by the government. By all means, the Government of India has accorded sanction to hold both CT and OQ for HI well in advance.

FIH cannot plead ignorance on this count. Otherwise too there are pertinent questions to be asked on other fronts.

Is it integrity of sports to allot a tournament to a country without it bidding in the first place? Does it further come under integrity cover if such allotted tournament is taken off without the benevolent receiver’s consent?

Is India so weak that one day you say we give you this, and next day you say, sorry, we take it from you. Neither the FIH nor this country can be proud of this type of actions.

In either way, I don’t think the FIH did things befitting its status of a global body, but its actions smacks of, what I can say, petty mindedness.

The FIH has signed a MoU with Indian Olympic Association to conduct the World Cup. Was it right to ignore the National Sports Federation that time? If that was correct a year ago, and the non-existence of NSF was taken it sportingly, why can’t the same be rule now, why can’t the same sportsmanship apply now? The IOA headed by Vijay Malhotra has invited the visiting FIH president for the same purpose. It was ready to sign MOU, but the FIH went by its new vista called ‘integrity’.

It’s really surprising that the then IOA headed by now jailed Suresh Kalmadi is acceptable to FIH, but someone else is not. Same way, despite courts and the Sports ministry giving ‘international rights’ to HI, it was acceptable till recently, but not now. Just because a compromise was being worked out to solve the problem that was eluding solution in the last three years.

As a hockey fan, it hardly matters to us who conducted the World Cup or who will conduct the CT? But what matters is the sport being held here. In this context, a comparison to 2007 is a must.

Due to terrorists fear, the 2007 CT was shifted from Pakistan. The FIH felt sad about it. It said that it won’t allow players of Pakistan to suffer on account of shifting; the country will be accommodated wherever the event would be shifted. It stood by it.

2007 CT was shifted to Malaysia. Ok. The six-nation event was enlarged to — believe me, not a seven-nation one so as to accommodate the hosts Malaysia — eight nation! England was brought in. It was a huge bonanza, advantage for England which was in the India’s group of OQ and thus got invaluable match exposure.

At the hospitality of an Asian nation, Malaysia, England was accommodated. India also made a bid for the 2007 CT, but lost out to Malaysia, simply because Malaysia was ready to dance to the tune of FIH for winning the bid. India stuck to seven-nation while Malaysia offered free cheque.

Why do I elaborate this? To bring home a valid point. Here lies the question: Where is the same logic which was used in 2007, now? CT is now shifted from India for whatever reason. Why do you allow a set of players (India) suffer for not fault of theirs.

When 2007 event was shifted, the FIH elaborated the logic that Pakistan players should not be deprived of their right to play CT, their participation should be ensured. We appreciated the FIH’s logic. Why can’t the same logic be used now with respect to Indian players, who are facing OQ and are desperate to play CT?

In 2007, the same FIH used a godsend opportunity – shifting CT from Pak – to accommodate England, besides Pak. Why do they not even talk about Indian players being deprived of their right now? Why not the HI, which sub-served the FIH interest, think on this line?

Shift the CT, ok, why don’t you accommodate the perceivably victimized Indian players. Why was India not given a slot in NZ CT instead asked them to go to SA which NZ was supposed to figure in? I don’t know what is the integrity of sport in the obtaining situation?

Never say India is 13th or 30th in rank. Its mere participation in this year’s CT would have pushed them to many notches upwards in the fragile system of ranking. If a non-bidding country can be allotted CT and the nation then can collect Ranking Points, it was ok when other things suited, not ok now because the FIH doesn’t like some faces in India!

This is not integrity by any stretch of imagination.