FIH objection into HI-IHF agreement under consideration: Maken

NEW DELHI: Sports Minister Ajay Maken said that the government is looking into the objections raised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on the temporary power-sharing formula between Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation to run the game in the country.

Maken told the Rajya Sabha that the government has taken note of FIH’s concern over the temporary arrangement reached between the two warring bodies over running hockey affairs in the country.

“FIH has expressed concern over the proposed settlement stating that it would go against their statute, which provides for a sole national governing body in each member country. The entire matter is under consideration,” said Maken.

Stating that the agreement between HI and IHF was not in compliance with the Olympic Charter and the FIH Statutes, the world body had threatened to withdraw all international tournaments, including the Champions Trophy here in December and Olympic qualifiers for men and women in February next year, until the matter is resolved.

FIH president Leandro Negre had written to the sports minister, calling for an urgent meeting, involving the presidents of HI and the Indian Olympic Association to discuss the FIH’s concerns.

Maken informed the House that HI and IHF would maintain their individual legal existence and set up a Joint Executive Board comprising members of their existing executive boards “for limited purpose of holding annual national championships, selection of national team in different categories, preparation of national team and participation of national teams in FIH-approved international tournaments”.

“A joint working committee shall be constituted consisting of presidents of HI and IHF as co-chairman and three members of each body. As per the provisional settlement, the government will review the position after Dec 31, 2012, and decide further course of action on the basis of guidelines for recognition as a national sports federation,” Maken said.

“The annual National Championship will be jointly held by HI and IHF after holding joint selection of state teams for which appropriate selection procedure shall be put in place by the Joint Executive Board,” he said.