Hockey India Says that Pakistan Players' One-Match Ban is Insufficient as Punishment
Hockey India has threatened not to have any bilateral series with Pakistan after their players' obscene gestures while celebrating having beaten India in the FIH Champions Trophy semis.
Hockey India (HI) president Narinder Batra on Sunday demanded an apology from the Pakistan team and said the one-match ban handed by Federation of International Hockey (FIH) to the two Pakistan players is not sufficient. (Two Pak Players Suspended)
"Hockey India is unhappy with one-match ban to two Pakistan players. It is insufficient," Narinder Batra said. (Pakistan Players Make Obscene Gestures While Celebrating)
Batra also threatened to severe all ties with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) unless they issued an unconditional apology. (FIH Regrets Incidents)
"No question of resuming bilateral hockey ties with Pakistan till Pakistan Hockey Federation apologises. Coach's apology not enough, Federation must apologise," he said.
As the final hooter sounded in Saturday night's thriller, excited Pakistani players took off their shirts and made rude gestures towards Indian fans at the packed 7,000-capacity Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar.
Mohammad Tousiq and reserve goalkeeper Ali Amjad were handed a one-match ban that sidelined them from the final of the eight-nation tournament against Germany on Sunday in Bhubaneswar.
Shafqat Rasool was reprimanded for the same offence, the FIH announced after conducting a hearing with Pakistan coach Shahnaz Sheikh and the players earlier in the day.
"The above-mentioned players were seen making gestures that are considered to be obscene," the FIH said in a statement without elaborating. The body had earlier cleared Pakistan of any wrongdoing.
Earlier Narinder Batra demanded an unconditional apology from Pakistan and called for strict action by the governing body.
"I am instructing my CEO to inform FIH that in case this kind of behaviour by teams is within normal and tolerable limits of FIH, then we may not be interested to host any more tournaments in India," Batra said in a statement.
"The tournaments may be shifted to countries which tolerate this kind of nonsense and uncouth behaviour."
India are due to host the 2018 World Cup.
In a separate statement released by the FIH on Sunday, Shahnaz issued a fresh apology on behalf of the PHF.
"The incident.....contained behaviour that is considered unacceptable to Pakistan Hockey Federation and the entire hockey fraternity," he was quoted as saying in the statement.
"As the result, I have spoken to my team and explained to them that they are guests in India and as hosts they have been very hospitable to the team."