Mattoo resigns as Hockey India President

NEW DELHI: Deeply hurt by the allegation made against him during the recent hockey crisis, AK Mattoo has resigned as the Hockey India President and also from all the other administrative posts in various sport bodies.

Mattoo has sent in his resignation to the Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi and has made up his mind to “take retirement from sports administration”.

“I have submitted my resignation to Kalmadi and I now want to take retirement from sports administration. I have served for 40 years and it has been long and fruitful innings,” Matoo said.

Apart from being Hockey India president, Mattoo is also the treasurer of the IOA and the Organising Committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Asked whether he would reconsider his decision if Kalmadi ask him to do so, he said, “No, I have made up my mind and don’t want to get into all these again. I have enjoyed my stint as a sports administrator all these years.”

Mattoo, who is known for his integrity and uprightness, admitted that the allegation leveled against him by the striking hockey players and some other officials and the manner in which the crisis was projected left him deeply hurt.

Asked whether that was the reason why he decided to quit, Mattoo said, “Well, that is one of the reasons. Certainly it did play a role in my decision.”

Mattoo said that he had not heard anything from Kalmadi over his resignation yet.

“I have not received any communication from Kalmadi on whether he has accepted my resignation or not. Even if I am asked to continue till the Commonwealth Games, I would not like to carry on,” Mattoo said.

Mattoo said he had no doubt that the forthcoming World Cup hockey in February-March and the Commonwealth Games in October would be huge success.

Mattoo’s term as the Hockey India President would have come to an end in February 7, the day of election which would pave the way for a new committee to take charge of the body.

The FIH, the world governing body for the game, had made it mandatory for the HI to complete the election formalities before the World Cup while granting the mega event to India.

Mattoo may however, be asked to continue till the election formalities are over since it would be difficult for a new person to understand the issues at such a late stage.

Mattoo was left with the task of negotiating with the players during the recent payment dispute, which led to the hockey players boycotting the World Cup preparatory camp in Pune.

Mattoo had pleaded that HI had no fund to pay the players and had offered Rs 25,000 to them, who were demanding Rs 4.5 lakhs for match fee, incentives and their dues.

The matter was later resolved with Kalmadi brokering a compromise deal after team sponsor Sahara India immediately released Rs one crore for distribution among the players only.