At Barcelona Match Fixing taunted India

Four years later, in the Barcelona Qualifier for the Atlanta Olympics, the roles were reversed. After four straight wins, including 4-1 against The Netherlands, India qualified for Olympics majestically even as a match was left. Malaysia and India met in the last league match. The former needed a draw to book its ticket to Atlanta while Canada needed India’s win to upstage Malaysia. The Asians played a tame draw (0-0) and the Pan American smelt a rat in that.

Canada, which ironically played Indo-Pan American Friendship Hockey Cup six months ago at Chandigarh, turned a foe and lodged a protest with the FIH. Quoting match statistics and an Indian informer, it accused India-Malaysia of match-fixing.

In its written accusation dated 6th February 1996, which the FIH took cognizance of, Canada sought ‘the game result of India-Malaysia game declared null and void, both teams to be suspended, not be allowed to take part in the Olympics and change the standings of the Olympic Qualifier to reflect the same’.

Canada in particular accused Secretaries of both India and Malaysian Hockey Federations, six Indian players (Pargat Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Harpreet Singh, Baljit Singh Dhillon, Baljit Singh Saini, Sanjeev Kumar), and one S.R. Bhaskaran, who was part of the Indian delegation, involved in the ‘fixing’.

Canada quoted the statistical profile of India-Malaysia match (India’s zero penalty corner, just one shot at goal, entering the rival ‘D’ only twice…) and an Indian player’s advance information passed on to a Canadian player (Robin D’Abreo) as its proof. Canada strongly relied on the Tournament Director’s remark in his report: ‘The course of this match gives the impression that there was an arrangement between both teams not to score a goal.’

On 8th February, the FIH reconstituted its Disciplinary Committee as a Malaysian (Sultan Azlan Shah) and German (Michael Krause) were its Chairman and Secretary. The German had to go as Malaysia then had a German (Volker Knapp) as its coach.

India provided written affidavits of six players, IHF Secretary, SR Bhaskaran and coach Cedric D’Souza; so also five Malaysian players and their officials. Canada sent affidavits from five of its players and a host of officials including its coach Shiaz Virjee, an NRI. Copies of these affidavits are with this writer even now.

India strongly refuted the accusation in its reply to FIH dated 24th Feb. The enquiry committee consisting Peter Cohen (Australia), Steve Jaspan (South Africa), Joaquim Dualde (Spain), Pierre Belmer (France) and Paul Litjens (The Netherlands) summoned concerned parties to Belgium, where the FIH was headquartered then, on 2nd March. India was represented by KPS Gill, KTS Tulsi, then Solicitor General of India, V.S. Jafa, a lawyer, and HS Kharbanda, the manager.

Thankfully, for India, the FIH ruled in its favour quoting lack of concrete proof. KTS Tulsi charged the IHF Rs.1 lac for the service, which the IHF paid four years later!

The last Olympic Qualifier India played was at Madrid in 2004. The event was known for leaving Dhanraj Pillay out on the eve of the team departure. Without him, the team struggled before barely making it to Athens, defeating both Malaysia and Canada on its way.

Unlike in the past, the qualifier format has been changed in 2006 with only the winner of any of the three Qualifiers making it to Beijing. This proved to be tricky track for some strong teams.

Excerpts from Hockey Year Book 2008

1995 Barcelona Qualifier

8 drew Great Britain 3-3 Round Robin

9 defeat Holland 4-1 Round Robin

10 drew Spain 0-0 Round Robin

11 defeat Belarus 2-0 Round Robin

12 defeat Canada 2-1 Round Robin

13 defeat Belgium 4-2 Round Robin

v14 drew Malaysia 0-0 Round Robin
First five ranked teams qualified