New ‘interactive’ referrals on cards

NEW DELHI: In a bid to counter the spectator-unfriendliness of new hockey referrals, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) is planning to introduce a colourful, ‘interactive’ procedure in the video referral system that is in vogue in the Euro league.

FIH president Leandro Negre said on Tuesday that the world body was planning to adapt the European version so that umpiring decisions on penalty corners, penalty strokes and goals disputed by teams could be made known to the public while it was happening, thus keeping them interested in the goings-on instead of merely waiting around for a verdict.

The system in Europe is rather colourful, according to Negre. While onfield umpires fitted with mikes discuss the appeals with the video umpire, pictures of the discussion and the slow motion replays, along with footage of the video umpire studying the action in the studio, are all flashed on the giant screen.

In the end, the video umpire’s decision is conveyed via the public address system. The FIH plans to replicate this at the World Cup. The video umpire may have the verdict conveyed to the public either through a person appointed for the purpose or we may opt for captions in the pictures we flash on the giant screen,” Negre said.

When asked when the system would be introduced, Negre said it all depended on tournament director Ken Read. But it’ll happen sooner than later,” Negre said.