Dr VK Bahuguna
(The author is former Director-General of Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change
The sport lover and media all over the world are deeply engrossed in the Paris Olympics 2024. More than 10,500 Athletes are participating in 329 events in 48 disciplines to get their dream medals. The leading countries like USA and China dominate the world games and it is the wish of all athletes to get a medal in the world events particularly in the Olympics. I decided to write this article after witnessing the India British Hockey Quarter final match of 2024 Olympic. The ace Indian defender Amit Rohidas was shown the dubious red card early in the first quarter of the match on 4th August 2024 for apparently in the opinion of TV Umpire, intentionally hitting the British forward Will Calnan by swinging his hockey stick and hitting Calnan in his face and thus violating the Federation of International Hockey (FIH) code of conduct. Initially the field empire did not consider it as a serious offence, but the TV Umpire after the video referral ordered a red card.He was forced to go out of the match and the Indian team played with 10 players for around three quarters (40) minutes) but ultimately won the match in penalty shootout. Despite this the India won the match 4-2 in penalty shootout thanks to our goal keeper Srijeesh. The goal keeper of Britain contrary to code of conduct was taking lesson from behind the goal post during penalty shootout from the coach but this was ignored.
However, this red card banned Amit from playing the next match with Germany on 6th August 2024. It was a big blow to India and it clearly showed in the semi final match with Germany on 6th when Indian defence looked vulnerable in Amit’s absence. However, the video clearly showed that Amit’s stick hit Calnan accidentally trying to evade him and not deliberately. No player will do it, knowing full-well what the punishment for such folly is. Again India was robbed off the final spot by awarding a penalty stroke to Germany in this nerve-wracking game. The German team just before the half time when failed to convert a penalty corner, asked for a review as the ball was deflecting off Indian player Jarampreet Singh. The Indian claimed that the ball hit the Jaramanpreet’s stick. But the TV Umpire ruled that the ball hit the leg of Indian player and hence over ruled the on field Referee. The video showed that the ball hit the stick and moreover the ball trajectory was way outside the goal post. The former Indian Captain Viren Rasquine also questioned the decision to award penalty for lack of proof.
The Indian team appealed but the FIH has cryptically stated that “after inspection and deliberations the appeal has been rejected and Amit will not play the semi-final”. To Indian hockey’s disadvantage, FIH has always been dominated by Europeans who have been changing the artistic hockey to power hockey for a long time. Indian Hockey Federation must protest against the biased umpiring vociferously. It is quite acceptable that due to fast-paced nature of this game the field referee may make a mistake in judging accurately but TV Umpire has all the techniques and must follow the rule in spirit.
The second case is of Vinesh Phogat who was disqualified for finals in 50 kg category wrestling, when her weight was found more by 100 grams in the morning. Though her coach and management is equally to be blamed for showing utter casualness but the organizers have also behaved in a very autocratic manner by completely whitewashing her achievements and allowing the defeated candidate to move in the finals. In fact the other finalist in 50 kg should have been declared winner and she could be allowed the Silver medal as natural justice. The Indian contingent had appealed and the appeal is likely to be decided but it has exposed the chinks in international sports.
The South Sudan Basketball coach also accused the referees of wide foul discrepancy bias in their Men’s basketball match against Serbia. Then again Serbia accused the referees of bias against their match with USA. Then there are doubts raised over the scoring systems in Boxing which are ruining the careers of players and the fact that 36 referees were suspended for bias scoring.
The players are strictly bound by the Olympic code of conduct as the Sword of Damocles always hangs over their head if they protest. But Umpiring gets away with and robs the sport of its true winner. The International Olympic Association must sit and sort out this kind of degradation in the world sports. The Umpiring bias was also prevalent in cricket but it was sorted out with the appointment and neutral Umpires and the technology.
However, the mandarins in Indian sports should shed the unprofessional approach in dealing with sports if India has to win matches and medals internationally. A very well planned strategy need to be adopted to spot the young talent and nurture them. Then surely the country will win many medals in Olympics. Hockey has been revived by introducing the Hockey India league with best facilities and the role of the then Orissa Chief Minister Mr Navin Patnaik is commendable by creating world class infrastructure in Bhubaneswar and nurturing the players who ultimately helped India winning the Bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics. The hockey players are now earning quite well as professionals and unless our youngsters are assured of good money in return we cannot expect good youth to join for sports. Now a little bit advice for the hockey players. Though they can now defeat any team in the world but their talent in scoring field goals and converting the penalty corners needs much more professional approach, if they have to win the elusive gold medal. Take the first 15 minutes play in the semi-final with Germany, India got seven penalty corners but could convert only one and lost the momentum. On Referees bias we must understand that either we play so well that Referees bias will not affect the game or we become so powerful in hockey like we are in cricket that Referees careers are affected by bias against India.
