World Series out of bounds, FIH plans own league

Uthra G Chaturvedi

Months after the million-dollar World Series Hockey was launched amidst fanfare and the backing of several international players, the Indian Hockey Federation’s (IHF) project has run into trouble. The FIH, the sport’s governing body, has refused to recognise the league while also revealing plans to launch its own official hockey league in association with Hockey India, which is jointly running hockey in the country.
In a strongly-worded letter, dated January 24, to all national associations (a copy of which is with The Indian Express), the apex body reiterated that any player associating itself with the WSH will be rendered ineligible to participate in all FIH events, including the Olympic Games.

“Major newspapers in India have reported on a new Indian hockey league, namely World Series of Hockey (WSH), proposed as a joint venture between the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Nimbus, a sports marketing agency. FIH has received reports from some national associations (NAs) that some of their players have been approached from agencies supposing to represent franchises that will participate in the new league.

“FIH does not recognise the WSH. FIH notes that matches in the WSH may conflict with FIH major events, which may compromise an athlete’s participation in their national team program.

“Any player and any NA that participates in the WSH may render that player and NA ineligible to participate in any FIH tournament, including Olympic Qualifying tournaments and the Olympic Games. No player and no NA should accept any involvement in the WSH without first consulting the CEO of FIH, Kelly Fairweather,” the letter stated.

The WSH seem to have forced the official body to hurriedly plan its own version of franchise-run professional league and get all the players on board. “FIH also advises that we have been working with Hockey India for some time (several months before the announcement of the WSH) to establish a professional league in India. This new league will carry the endorsement of the FIH and HI. FIH expects to make a further announcement after the meeting of the Executive Board to be held in the first week of March, 2011,” the letter further stated.

The letter also sought to dispel doubts over Hockey India’s recognition, with the letter clearly stating reasons of support. “The IHF was a member of the Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC). The IHC’s membership of the FIH was withdrawn some 2 years ago for failure to comply with the FIH Statutes. Subsequently, Hockey India (HI) was formed and was formally admitted as a member of the FIH at the 2008 Congress. HI is now the only body governing hockey in India recognised by the FIH and the Indian Olympic Association.”