Video referrals to be used in 2010 World Cup

New Delhi, Feb. 12: The 12th Hockey World Cup here will allow teams the option of one referral per match to the video umpire, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said on Friday.

On the basis of a trial during the Champions Trophy in Melbourne last year, each team will be allowed one team query in a match, including extra time periods and penalty stroke competitions, on the award of goals, penalty strokes and penalty corners, the FIH said in a statement.

Any player, who is on the pitch at the time of the incident including the captain, can request a team referral. The team will retain their right to referral after every successful appeal.

“FIH will continue the use of video umpire team referrals at the Hero Honda FIH World Cup. Under the current procedures, match umpires may refer decisions to the video umpire when they are not convinced that they have taken, or are able to take, the correct decision relating to the awarding or disallowing of goals,” the FIH statement said.

Elaborating, the world body said, “There is one slight change to the video umpire procedures following the Melbourne trials. Now any team player, who is on the pitch at the time of the incident (rather than just the captain), can request a referral. This player must indicate to the umpire that he wishes to use his team referral.”

Ken Read, FIH competitions committee chairman and World Cup tournament director, said, “We learned a lot about the team referral procedures in Melbourne. As a result we are confident that our experience from the Champions Trophy will help ensure that the system will be of real assistance in reducing any major umpiring errors.”

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