Charity match off as controversy hits hockey again

With just over a week to go for the World Cup, the Indian hockey team found themselves in the centre of another controversy on Saturday, once again revolving around money.
The team, scheduled to play a match against film and television stars in Chandigarh to promote the game and generate funds for hockey players, were accused of demanding Rs 5 crore at the last minute by the organisers, AMR Foundation. The players termed the allegations as baseless and blamed the organisers of being unprepared for the event and of trying to malign the players.

“We were supposed to leave our hotel at around 6.30 in the morning, and were woken up around five by the news that we had asked for Rs 5 crore. It was shocking, since there had never been any such demand from our side,” said Deepak Thakur, one of the three players who went to Chandigarh to clear the matter with the organisers.

Thakur was accompanied by captain Rajpal Singh and striker Prabhjot Singh, the three players accused of demanding money. “We decided to come to clear the matter and demand an explanation from the organisers on the whole issue. They targeted the three of us as demanding money to break team unity. But when we tried talking to them they refused, forcing us to come all the way here despite the World Cup being so close,” said Prabhjot.

The players say the organisers admitted they were at fault at a three-hour long meeting, for which actor Suneil Shetty was also present, but Sandeep Kochar, spokesperson for AMR, denied that, saying the players had in fact negotiated during the meeting and insisted on a minimum of Rs 2 crores.

“We told them we could pay a maximum of 54 lakhs but they refused,” he said. Kochar had told The Sunday Express in the morning that the players had signed a contract and their refusal to play the match could lead to legal action. By late evening, however, the organisers had decided against any such move.

According to team members, the organisers had given them no details on the programme and there had been problems in communication. “Till late Friday evening, we had no information. We tried to get in touch several times but got no clear reply. Even the tickets were sent only after we sent them a message saying we would not come,” said Prabhjot.

Thakur added that things began going awry from then on. “They sent tickets for 21 of us, excluding Diwakar Ram. We told them that all 22 would be playing, as decided, and no one would be left behind,” he said.