The funny way hockey is being run, and remain in unacceptable state

During the 2006 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup competition, which was telecast live by ESPN-Star Sports, one of the commentators was celebrated personality Harsha Bhogle, an icon in the world of cricket journalism.

One incident occurred that time.

A goal was awarded to India. The ball then was brought back to the centerline to start the game. Game restarted and a couple of moves too had taken place. Suddenly, that is after two minutes of the goal being awarded, one umpire stopped the game and said the goal is disallowed.

At Amsterdam, VS Vinaya scored a goal against Spain in the bronze match, it was disallowed in a similar fashion and then India went on to lose the match by a breadth of hair.

We are not focusing on the merits and demerits of the indecisions followed by the ‘decisive’ decisions!

Bhogle was flummoxed. “Can such things happen in any sports?”, he querried the other commentator and said, ‘it is not done, it is unfair”. They have not even consulted third umpire or any other mechanism”. There was no video referral for the Azlan Shah Cup.

Anybody who has commonsense and followed popular and established sports like Cricket, Football, Volleyball, basketball, would have felt the same.

But probably the likes of Bhogles are not aware funny and hilarious side of the umpiring decisions.

Four years ago, Indian girls went for the lemon break with the score board reading 2-1 in their favour. It was a crucial India-England match at Madrid World Cup qualifier.

When they returned after the 10 minutes break the score was reverted to 1-1.

I was then syndicating chief coach MK Kaushik’s column for the Hindustan Times. Describing the incident he said it is not done, it is unfair.

What Bhogle felt was exactly what hurt Kaushik.

Incidentally, Jose Brasa was one of the logistic organizers of the Madrid World Cup, with whom I had adequate opportunity to interact. When I asked his comment on the scoreboard reversal, that was for this website, he said, “Every decision is against India”.

We two never had an inkling that time Jose will one day be our saviour, national coach.

Now, connects things. Every decision is against India. What a prophesy.

Can a sport be a popular one if you have such unpopular measures that go against the grain of sports.

What Bhogle felt was nearly again felt by a seasoned writer yesterday. He asked TD Ken Read.

“You say such a big blunder has taken place on the field. What action will you take for the umpires who have not even noticed that?

What a genuine question, which had all the merits to be taken seriously, and replied accordingly. All the TD could do was to laugh heartily, as if the media there is duffers!

TD was not laughing at the media, he was laughing at the sport they profess.

Just because something is not in their rule books, it does not mean the world ends there.

Hockey’s enemies are not outsiders, they are sitting pretty inside, laughing heartily of course.