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FIH to review controversial referral system

2010-03-11 18:03:00

Team referrals in hockey will be reviewed soon, with the contentious instances at the Hero Honda World Cup likely to shape future opinion about such appeals and the course they would take.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) admitted that Monday's incident in the match between India and South Africa was not the "ideal way to present the game or the referral system" and promised a review in the coming months.

"Like all new experiments, team referrals have thrown up a few grey areas. We need to get the feedback from all sources, study the electronic evidence before we think of using them in the next FIH tournament," said FIH technical manager Roger Webb.

On Monday, a 45th-minute goal that put India ahead in the second half was overruled after the South Africans pointed to a foul that had occurred in the Indian circle a minute or two earlier.

Perhaps, theoretically the procedure could have been correct but what left those at the Dhyan Chand stadium confused was the way the team referral was accepted by the same umpire who had penalised South Africa for dangerous play, awarding a free hit to India.

While it is perfectly possible that umpire Ged Curran of Scotland couldn't have seen the ball strike Vikram Pillay - that was the bone of contention - the fact that he was forced to rake it up many seconds later, that too after India added a goal to their kitty, irked many.

Coach Jose Brasa was dismayed by the incident. "I cannot understand how a referral can cut the flow of the game. We were told in the coaches' meeting that team referrals would have to be immediate. By any yardstick, Monday's appeal was too late."

South African captain Austin Smith said the system was not perfect. "The ball had come off an Indian player's stick on to the body. We were trying to defend a counterattack as well as go for the referral, not sure if the umpire had heard us. There is a flaw and it needs to be ironed out," Smith said.

"There is also a need to be clear how long the play can go on after a team asks for a referral. The umpire could have refused us the referral as the game had gone on long enough for him to do so."

Webb admitted the timing of the appeal was indeed the nub of the argument. "We do agree appeals which come in late interrupt the game and has a say on the outcome. Both the players and the umpires need to understand this well. It is how quickly you appeal and how promptly you accept it. That is something that needs to be tidied up."

When asked whether the FIH felt a time limit had to be fixed for referrals, Webb said: "We will go into the entire gamut of things. Umpires are empowered to turn down appeals if they are late. They need to implement it. It is indeed a grey area."

Another factor which the world body will study is whether captains alone should have the right to appeal, like it was in last year's Champions Trophy. "That too may be part of our discussions," Webb said.

Source TOI