Sports ministry to evaluate HI-IHF power sharing formula

NEW DELHI: Sports minister Ajay Maken Thursday said the government was evaluating the power-sharing formula between the recognised Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) after objections raised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

Maken told the Lok Sabha that the government has taken note of FIH’s concern over the “compromise settlement” reached between the two warring bodies over controlling the national sport.

“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.

The sports minister also informed the Lok Sabha that HI and IHF while maintaining their individual legal existence shall set up a joint executive board comprising members of their existing executive board.

“A joint working committee shall be constituted consisting of the presidents of the HI and the 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.

FIH had threatened the issue to be sorted out as quickly as possible so that hockey is not affected in India and also threatened to withdrawing all international tournaments allotted to the country until the matter is resolved. Delhi was scheduled to host the Champions Trophy in December and Olympic qualifiers for men and women in February next year.

The FIH said the agreement HI and the IHF entered into earlier this week is not in compliance with the Olympic Charter and the FIH Statutes.

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 (( IOA)), to discuss the FIH’s concerns and the ramifications of the current proposal for India’s role in world hockey.