Elect hockey panel or be banned, FIH tells India

International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Leandro Negre on Thursday said the world federation would not hesistate to disaffiliate India if it does not have an elected organisation in place by May 31.

The Spaniard, however, said the things are much better in the ad-hoc Hockey India (HI) than they were a year back.

“Our role is to facilitate the process. But India’s problems have to be sorted out by Hockey India. If there is no elected HI in place by May 31, the FIH will not hesitate to ban India as an affiliate member of the world body. We are serious and we will translate our words into action,” Negre said.

“However, I must say that things are improving. And the situation is much better than what it was a year back. We understand its (HI) position and it also understands our position. We are open for discussions.”

“India is important for world hockey and for that it is very important to have a strong Hockey India in place. For us, it is also important to have free, fair and clean election. But again, the election process has to be done by India,” said Negre.
On the affiliation process, Negre said: “There should be only one federation in each state. If there are two or three parties, then they wil have to wait for the verdict of the court.”

Asked if the sports ministry can intervene in affiliating the state bodies, he said: “We don’t want any reference from the government. It has to be done by Hockey India.”