Official order of Shivendra Singh's 3 match ban

New Delhi:

Decision in the hearing of breach of the Code of Conduct by Indiaplayer Shivendra Singh (18) in the match Pakistan v India 28th February2010.

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OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

Decision in the hearing of breach of the Code of Conduct by India player Shivendra Singh (18) in the match Pakistan v India 28th February 2010.

In the 39th minute of the match Pakistan v India on the 28th February 20910 Pakistan player Fareed AHMED (9) was in possession of the ball. India player Shivendra Singh (18) successfully jab tackled Fareed and move off on the counter attack. As he moved past Fareed his lifted his stick and struck Fareed above the eye causing a small cut.

Shivendra viewed the video of the incident and showed his team video frame by frame. At the time the stick was lifted the ball was ahead of Shivendra on the ground and away from the players. These facts were agreed to by Shivendra at the hearing.

Shivendra argued at the hearing that the stick was lifted when he put his second hand on the stick It was argued that an accident happened. Shivendra stated that he had no intention to hit Fareed after the jabbing and just wanted to run faster and for that to hold his stick in the both hands.

I reject this argument. There was no need for the stick to be lifted. I find that the stick was deliberately raised and that the behaviour of Shivendra was reckless as to the safety of Fareed.

I was asked to take into account the fact that Shivendra commenced to represent India in 2006 and played in the 2006 world cup. He has played 110 games without suspension. I was told that he has not had a single card in his career, that he is a very disciplined player on and off the ground.

The attitude of Shivendra at the hearing was respectful and I take this into account in his favour together with his past record.

The guidelines put this as a level 2 offence - physical assault without serious injury. The penalty suggested is a minimum of 2 matches. In my view this is not a case to apply the minimum because the ball remained on the ground at all times and was clear of the players when the Fareed was struck. The action of lifting the stick was deliberate. A 4 match suspension is appropriate but given the history of this player I consider that a suspension of 3 matches is appropriate. As no penalty was incurred by Shivendra during the match there can be no discount under 4 (iii) of the Guidelines to Tournament Director's.

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DECISION

My decision is that India player Shivendra Singh (18) is suspended for the matches:

India v Australia 2nd March,

Spain v India 4th March and

England v India 6th March.

Ken Read

Tournament Director

Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010.


Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

Decision in the Hearing relating to breach of Rule 4.2 of the Rules of Hockey 2009 by Irfan Muhammad in match Pakistan v India 28th February 2010 World Cup.

Irfan wore a long gauntlet type glove and a knee pad to defend the first penalty corner. In the Pakistan equipment bag behind the goal was the pair for each of these.

These were all removed by the TD immediately after Irfan was seen to be wearing the equipment. The Pakistan Manager Asif Bajwa was invited to a hearing to explain what had occurred.

It was put to Asif Bajwa that at the Champions Challenge in Salta the same or similar equipment was used without permission and that he had been warned as to this by the TD Mr Sanderson without having attended a formal hearing. He agreed with this.

The blog created for the teams for this event displayed glove #4 as illegal. It is almost identical to this glove. It is the same brand. Asif Bajwa agreed that he had seen this blog.

At the Manager's meeting for this event it was explained that there would be zero tolerance for the wearing of any equipment not approved.

Asif admitted that the equipment worn by Irfan was not taken by the Pakistan team to the equipment meeting and accordingly was not approved. Had it been it would not have been approved.

Irfan was called to the hearing. He agreed that he had worn the equipment. He said that he had not been instructed not to use the equipment. He said that he now knows that he is not to use it and will not use it again.

Asif Bajwa agreed that there was guilt and apologised and stated that it would not happen again. He also said it was not the intention. The equipment was taken to the ground as a mistake and he used it by a mistake. He admitted that In Salta the team did not know that the team could not use this kind of equipment. It was a different player who used it in Salta.

Asif Bajwa concluded by asking me to take into account the behaviour of the Pakistan team during the game with no cards in the game and no umpire disputes and compliance with all other uniform. It is agreed that the behaviour was excellent.

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DECISION

I have considered all that has been put to me and agreed to at the hearing. The breach was clear and without excuse other than mistake. Clearly the message conveyed to the Managers and Coaches by the TD must be conveyed to the players.

In the circumstances, having particular regard to the behaviour of the Pakistan team throughout the match particularly after an incident in the 39th minute (the subject of another hearing), I have decided the following penalties to be appropriate:

Irfan Muhammad is suspended for the match Pakistan v Spain 2nd March 2010.

Asif Bajwa is severely reprimanded.

Ken Read

Tournament Director

Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010.