ISLAMABAD: Chief executive of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Kelly Fairweather on Thursday said that the raging war of words between the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and Hockey India (HI) over the Champions Trophy incident last year would have to be sorted by the two boards themselves.

Fairweather said the Champions Trophy matter was closed as far as the apex hockey body’s role in resolving the issue was concerned.

“We don’t intend to sit between them. What we will be doing is to meet with the Pakistan Hockey Federation and its new leadership, and hopefully they will have a new approach,” Fairweather said.

He added that Pakis­tan’s role in international hockey was absolutely essential.

“These (Pakistan and India) are two powerhouses of world hockey and the fact that Pakistan are not playing the World Cup and Olympics is not a good omen,” he further said.

Talking about the Champions Trophy incident, he said it was now between the two boards. “That incident, as far as FIH is concerned, is in the past. We took what we believe was the appropriate action,” he maintained.

“Our part as international federation is to make sure that Pakistan gets back into international hockey as a force,” Fairweather said.

Hockey India president Narender Batra had asked for an apology from the PHF and made it clear that India won’t play against Pakistan in a friendly series or HIL until Pakistan tendered an apology. However, the newly-elected PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmad Senior said no apology would be tendered to the HI president.

“If they have an issue with the PHF they must have sent in writing but this kind of conduct is totally intolerable,” said Shahbaz, adding that it looked very strange that Batra was demanding for an apology now while the Champions Trophy was held several months ago.—APP

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2015

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