The Tournament Director,

Samsung Women’s World Cup 2006

Club de Campo Villa de Madrid

Sub: Technical conduct of India’s matches in the on going women’s World Cup

2006

Our team has been constantly under pressure from incompetent and biased umpires which has been directly affecting our performance here in the ongoing world cup. Level playing field is the most important of requirements for any team to showcase their true potential, which simply did not exist here for us. We firmly assert that we have been at the wrong end of many umpiring decisions. We have enough video recordings and statistics to prove beyond doubt our points of view in this respect.

In this context we object to the fact that though England and Netherlands are in our pool, umpires from Netherlands and Scotland are posted for our matches.

In our match against England, a legitimate goal has been awarded to us seconds before the half time, but we were shocked to know that goal had been disallowed when we returned for the second half of play. No one cared to explain us why this glaring, bizarre decision has been taken during half time or after that. We came to know of the cancellation of the goal by seeing the scoreboard which read 1-0 in our favor when we dispersed for the half time and read 0-0 when we returned for second half play. f

The goal scoring sequence is like this. Our midfielder trapped a pass near right side of circle which was intercepted by a defender in the circle. This ball rose and a penalty corner should have been given, but the play was allowed to continue as a result of which our forward passed the ball to another who scored in a spectacular fashion. A beautiful goal was scored. The umpire immediately blew the whistle for the goal. We do not see anything wrong in the sequence that led to the goal. The point here is, on what grounds the goal was disallowed. We were simply told the goal has been disallowed. We are at loss to understand reasons for this bizarre decision. We are entitled for an explanation which was denied to us. This is not sportsmanship for which the global community has gathered here. We were thus denied not only a goal but also a penalty corner.

We wanted to lodge an official protest against the cancellation of this goal right at the start of the second half of play itself, but were not permitted by the technical officials.

In the first half of the match itself, we were denied a sure penalty stroke when our player taking try inside the circle was pushed by a defender intentionally. Instead of penalty stroke, a penalty corner was given, which was surprising. As per the rules, any intentional foul inside the circle is a foul that warrants a penalty stroke. This has also been denied to us.

Five penalty corners given against us in the same match were not penalty corner situations at all. Given an opportunity, we can show the video clippings to prove our points.

We assert that a panel of experts should be constituted to review the goal that was disallowed during half time against England as a special case and the justice to be done to us in the spirit of the sportsmanship and for the glory of hockey. At least hereafter umpiring posting for our matches should be done keeping all ethical norms and healthy practices in mind. We not only expect injustice should not be done to us in the tournament, but also bring all these acts of injustices to the notice of the world body, FIH, with necessary supporting clippings and information.

Yours truly,

Anurita Saini, Manager

Copy to: President/Secretary, FIH, Laussane, Switzeerland

2. Umpires Manager, Samsung Women’s World Cup 2006

3. President/Secretary, Indian Hockey Confederation, New Delhi .