India’s star forward Shivendra Singh, who scored the first goal yesterday against Pakistan, has been suspended for next three matches.

Announcing this in a press meet, Tournament Director Ken Read said the Indian management has filed an appeal which will be discussed today night and the results will, in any case, be announced two hours before the start of Tuesday’s matches.

This is the complete letter of the TD in this regard:

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION
Decision in the hearing of breach of the Code of Conduct by India player
Shivendra Singh (18) in the match Pakistan v India 28th February 2010.
In the 39th minute of the match Pakistan v India on the 28th February 20910 Pakistan
player Fareed AHMED (9) was in possession of the ball. India player Shivendra
Singh (18) successfully jab tackled Fareed and move off on the counter attack. As he
moved past Fareed his lifted his stick and struck Fareed above the eye causing a
small cut.

Shivendra viewed the video of the incident and showed his team video frame by
frame. At the time the stick was lifted the ball was ahead of Shivendra on the ground
and away from the players. These facts were agreed to by Shivendra at the hearing.
Shivendra argued at the hearing that the stick was lifted when he put his second
hand on the stick It was argued that an accident happened. Shivendra stated that he
had no intention to hit Fareed after the jabbing and just wanted to run faster and for
that to hold his stick in the both hands.

I reject this argument. There was no need for the stick to be lifted. I find that the stick
was deliberately raised and that the behaviour of Shivendra was reckless as to the
safety of Fareed.

I was asked to take into account the fact that Shivendra commenced to represent
India in 2006 and played in the 2006 world cup. He has played 110 games without
suspension. I was told that he has not had a single card in his career, that he is a
very disciplined player on and off the ground.

The attitude of Shivendra at the hearing was respectful and I take this into account in
his favour together with his past record.

The guidelines put this as a level 2 offence – physical assault without serious injury.
The penalty suggested is a minimum of 2 matches. In my view this is not a case to
apply the minimum because the ball remained on the ground at all times and was
clear of the players when the Fareed was struck. The action of lifting the stick was
deliberate. A 4 match suspension is appropriate but given the history of this player I
consider that a suspension of 3 matches is appropriate. As no penalty was incurred
by Shivendra during the match there can be no discount under 4 (iii) of the
Guidelines to Tournament Director’s.

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Decision

My decision is that India player Shivendra Singh (18) is suspended for the matches:

India v Australia 2nd March,

Spain v India 4th March and

England v India 6th March.

Ken Read

Tournament Director

Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010.