MOA disaffiliates MHA, hockey body cries foul

New Delhi:

In a new development which could further delay the much-awaited Hockey India elections, the Maharashtra Olympic Association on Wednesday disaffiliated the state hockey body, saying it had received written complaints against the MHA from different quarters.

MOA secretary Baba Sahib Langde said that the affiliation to MHA was given on a temporary basis and its the executive committee today decided to withdraw the recognition after it had received complaints from other stakeholders of the game in the state, including Mumbai and Virdharba Hockey Associations.

"The affiliation to Victor Ellis-led MHA was a temporary one. But after we received complaints from Mumbai Hockey (men and women), Vidharbha and some factions of Maharashtra unit questioning as to how they were not recommended for HI affiliation, the MOA executive committee unanimously decided to withdraw the recommendation," Langde said.

"The EC's decision was placed before the MOA AGM today and the general body decided to withdraw the affiliation given to Victor Elias unit. We will be intimating our decision to HI soon," he said.

However, Maharashtra Hockey Association secretary Ikram Khan cried foul over the move and said the MOA did not give any reason for the move and simply restricted MHA president Victor Ellis from attending the AGM in Pune.