The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Thursday said that it has no intention of getting involved in the ongoing tussle between India and Pakistan’s federations.
FIH CEO Kelly Fairweather said that the world body would like to see the revival of Indo-Pak bilateral hockey ties.
“This is a matter between HI and PHF and FIH can’t really comment on that,” Fairweather said.
Fairweather, however, insisted that the Bhubaneswar incident is a thing of the past.
“As far as FIH is concerned the Bhubaneswar incident is a thing of the past. The FIH took what it felt was the right action,” he said.
Fairweather said the FIH’s main focus is to bring Pakistan hockey back into limelight after the four-time World champions failed to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Our focus is to make sure that Pakistan gets back into international hockey as a force. It’s pity to see a country like Pakistan not playing in the World Cup and in the Olympics. That is the real worry for me,” Fairweather said.
Meanwhile, Hockey India president Narinder Batra reiterated that until Pakistan apologises for their unruly behaviour during last year’s Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar, India will not play any bilateral series with the neighbours.
Batra said that Pakistani players will continue to be sidelines from the Hockey India League unless the Pakistan Hockey Federation officially apologises over the conduct of some of its players during the Champions Trophy.
“We are playing Pakistan in international events but for bilateral series to happen, we need an assurance from the Pakistan Hockey Federation that their players will not repeat such a behaviour again,” Batra told reporters.
Two players were handed a one-game ban and reprimanded by the FIH after the Pakistan team went on a rampage post their semi-final win against India in Bhubaneswar in December, 2014. Showing obscene gestures to the crowd, some players also took off their shirts in celebration.
Nine Pakistani players were part of the first edition of HIL in 2013 but were forced to leave the country before the start of the tournament following protests from a few political organisations.
Since then no Pakistani player has been included in the last three editions of the tournament.