September 22, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 09, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 21: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) umpiring committee has let off Pakistani umpire Dilawar Bhatti with a warning over flouting the rules in a Beijing tournament last month.

According to a PHF spokesman, Dilawar who was officiating matches in four-nation Good Luck Beijing tournament in August, violated rules by accommodating two of his Pakistani friends in the official bus from the hotel to the stadium.

The FIH says despite being asked by tournament director to remove the unauthorised person from the stadium, Dilawar asked them to sit in umpires’ room. The umpire was sent home by the FIH authorities and his accreditation was withdrawn.

Since Bhatti had already been penalised by the tournament director in Beijing, the chairman of the FIH umpiring committee after taking the matter into consideration, confirmed that no further disciplinary action would be taken against the umpire provided he does not repeat such actions in the future.