'Hockey India paid higher hosting fee for World Cup'

Hockey India (HI) paid a hosting fee of Rs.7.5 crore to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) against the Rs.2.5 crore agreed upon for the World Cup last year, former Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) chief K.P.S. Gill claimed Wednesday.

Gill was the president of IHF, which is no longer recognised by the world body, when FIH signed an Memorandum of Understanding to host the 2010 World Cup in India.

"When the IHF signed the MOU with the FIH for hosting the 2010 World Cup in Delhi the capitation fee that was agreed on was Rs.2.5 crore. But Mr. (Narinder) Batra (Hockey India's secretary general) revealed at a meeting three months ago that the amount was Rs.7.5 crore," Gill, now an IHF advisor, told reporters.

"I would file an FIR now to find out by which route Rs.7.5 crore went out of the country. I do not know whether it was through the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) route or the hawala route," said Gill.

Gill said that Batra revealed the information at the joint meeting of the IHF, HI and sports ministry in March.

Gill said the differences between IHF and HI can be sorted out.

"I can say the IHF is willing to go more than half way to sort out the differences with HI. But. Mr Batra is unwilling and he has a strong supporter in an important politician, Mr. Arun Jaitley," he charged.

IHF president R.K.Shetty, who was also present at the press conference, said they will go ahead with the organisation of the World Series Hockey (WSH) as the Delhi High Court verdict has gone in their favour.

"We would be coming out with the details about the dates, venues and players taking part in WSH in four to six weeks' time. I don't think FIH will prevent players from playing in it as it's for the promotion of hockey," he said.