Sport diminishes when it aligns with prejudice: Ric Charlesworth

By Biswajyoti Brahma, TNN | Jan 16, 2013, 01.39 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Ric Charlesworth, coach of Mumbai Magicians, came down heavily on the decision to send back Pakistan players who were part of various HIL teams.

“When sport is above prejudice, sport is wonderful. But, when it aligns with prejudice, sport begins to diminish,” said the Australian hockey legend.

His was the most vocal, and probably lone, criticism of the decision on a day when most hockey quarters were conspicuous by their silence.

There was not even a murmur of protest against the development in the light of Shiv Sena’s protests against Pakistani participation in the HIL.

Perhaps, Charlesworth’s angst emerged from a more immediate problem on his hands. Four of his players from Mumbai Magicians are Pakistani and the coach suddenly finds himself without a midfield ahead of their league opener against Delhi Waveriders on Wednesday.

Charlesworth could only watch as Fareed Ahmed, Imran Butt, Mahmood Rashid and Muhammad Tousiq trained on Tuesday, but knew that it was futile, since they might as well be packing their bags instead for their return trip home.

“(They are) some of the best players in the world, (and) you are sending them away the day before we play our first match. Of course I am disappointed. How do you do that?” fumed Charlesworth.

“We are hugely disadvantaged, but we will make a contest out of it,” continued the Aussie, who’s rather ambivalent relationship with the India and Indian hockey, seems to continue unabated.

“My main instinct would be (that) I wouldn’t be part of this, but there are lots of players involved from the start and we’ve put a lot into it and we want to see this work and we love the game,” he added.

“The Mumbai incident was a distraction for our boys. The Pakistani players are disappointed. They understand the situation, they’ve been wonderful in our team. The players want them to play and enjoy playing with them.”

Charlesworth was critical of the HIL rules. “I wanted a replacement policy before we started on this, but there is not one in place so it takes days before we had the players ready,” he said.

Charlesworth even fired a salvo at sport being held to ransom by extremist fringes in the name of patriotism. “May be you are unlucky with the timing. Pakistan played cricket here a week ago. How do you build relationship with neighbours if this goes on and on?” he said.

“I am very disappointed and I’m upset and sorry for what has happened because it diminishes the game. When I was at the age of these boys I was protesting against the apartheid (in South Africa).

If India wants that, this is where it leads,” he said bluntly. “It’s been my huge protest against this (current) prejudice. A few people show up and make a noise (and the rules change).

Look I am visitor in this country, I can’t solve it. These are political problems, and I know it’s bigger than me. I’m saying philosophically I disagree with this prejudice,” he said.