Referrals to make Cup debut

One of the recurring images for hockey fans is of a group of Indian players protesting a decision, with one of them then being sent off. It often happens at crucial moments in a game and if the team loses, it blames bad umpiring for the defeat. Such scenes will hopefully be a thing of the past with team referrals making their World Cup debut beginning February 28.

Hockey is often considered the most tampered-with sport. The number of rule changes introduced every year are many, and even more are the variations brought in to those rules. This time around, with the video referrals, the World Cup will see yet another addition to the long list of attempts at making the sport faster, and eliminating errors as much as possible. Introduced in 2008 and till now a prerogative of the on-field umpires, the referrals will now be made by players as well, a move that is expected to make the results less controversial.

While the appeal was introduced on a trial basis during the Melbourne Champions Trophy in December, this will be the first opportunity for the Indians to make use of the technology and coach Harendra Singh is upbeat about it. “I am completely in favour of this rule. Although only certain decisions will be up for referral, it is a good idea to introduce this rule,” Harendra told The Indian Express.

“Too often we see a team crib about the result after the match and blame the umpire. Allowing teams to appeal will give them an opportunity to lodge their protest immediately,” he added. The new rule allows one appeal per team during the entire match (including the extra time and the shootout) which, if upheld, will entitle it for another appeal.

While only the captain was allowed to ask for a referral in Melbourne, now any player can do so. “All teams have a think-tank, and they take the decisions. We are aware of the rule and so are the players. We have talked about it but we will devise a strategy only after our meeting with the tournament director on Friday, when the clauses and conditions will be discussed,” Harendra said.

Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels felt the referral system was a great idea. “It helps eliminate errors and is a great idea to make the game more exciting,” he said. However, only incidents inside the 23-yard area and some specific decisions — concerning the award or non-award of goals, penalty strokes and penalty corners — can be appealed.

While most teams have welcomed the move, the system has its critics as well, with England being at the receiving end during the Champions Trophy during their match against Spain ¿ the latter successfully appealed against a penalty corner, which was upgraded to a penalty stroke — leading to protests from England assistant coach Bobby Crutchley.

“It is a trial, so there will be errors. But we felt that when Spain referred the decision, the replay actually confirmed a penalty corner, not a stroke. So far the system isn’t solving the problem it was designed to,” he had said then.

Australian coach Ric Charlesworth has also adopted a wait-and-watch policy. “It’s a new system and there are problems. The video umpires got several decisions wrong during the Champions Trophy. But it’s new and as a concept I think it’s a good idea, it will minimise mistakes,” he said.

Added Harendra: “You always have to take split-second decisions in hockey. With this rule, the intelligence and decision-making skills of the players will be tested, resulting in less fouls being committed.”

Vogels, meanwhile, admitted that while the change might make the game exciting, it also made a player’s job harder. “For a goalkeeper, it has become more demanding and defending will be harder with the self pass rule. But it’s the same for all teams.”