Tribune: Gurbaj gets nine-month suspension for indiscipline

Sabi Hussain
Tribune News Service

Dealing a severe blow to Gurbaj Singh’s chances of representing India at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Hockey India (HI) today suspended the Punjab midfielder for nine months for “indulging in groupism and creating disharmony within the team”.

The charges against Gurbaj were levelled by Jude Felix, an assistant India coach who quit a few weeks back. Felix submitted an incriminatory report on Gurbaj’s conduct in the last three tournaments — FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Semifinals in Belgium, India-Japan Test series in Bhubaneswar and Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.

Felix documented instances where Gurbaj had shown scant respect to the support staff by not following their instructions and argued over his positions. Felix alleged that Gurbaj listened only to the chief coach and created groups in the squad. He further said that Gurbaj was not a “good ambassador” of Indian hockey and that he needed to be reprimanded for his “non-cooperative” behaviour so as to set an example for others.

After listening to both Gurbaj and Felix, the special committee, led by Olympian Harbinder Singh, found the midfielder guilty and decided to suspend him till May 9, 2016. Gurbaj, however, has the option to lodge an appeal with the HI’s Athletes Disputes and Grievance Redressal Committee within a month’s time.

Gurbaj, who has played over 200 internationals, can’t play in any HI, Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and International Hockey Federation (FIH) sanctioned tournaments during this period.

“Most of the members felt Gurbaj needed to be reprimanded in the larger interests of the game. There has not been any change in his attitude since the London Olympics; he continues to show disregard to the support staff, except the chief coach. The report submitted by Felix indicated that Gurbaj indulged in groupism, refused to play in a certain position and tried to create disharmony within the team. Gurbaj has lost respect for coaches; by punishing him we are setting an example for other players,” Harbinder told The Tribune.

Gurbaj said the decision has come as a “big setback” to his Rio Games preparations and he will challenge the verdict of the committee.

“Why (Roelant) Oltmans and Sandeep Sangwan didn’t report against me? Why they haven’t mentioned anything negative about my behaviour? The committee believed one person and banned me. Also, I fail to understand why they brought up the London Olympics report? That is a closed chapter and has nothing to do with the latest incident. I have been wronged and I won’t take it lying down,” Gurbaj told The Tribune.

Why would Felix file such a damning report against him? “Just because I wouldn’t greet him doesn’t mean I’ve behavioural issues. Following the orders of chief coaches doesn’t amount to indiscipline! If I gel well with some of the seniors, it doesn’t mean I am creating disharmony in the team. Oltmans has termed me a ‘vital cog’ in the team’s preparation for the Rio Games; Terry Walsh (a former chief coach) called me an ‘outstanding player’ and ‘among the best in the world’. What more do you need to earn the respect of the coaches?” questioned Gurbaj.