KARACHI, March 28: Pakistan Army on Wednesday lodged a strong protest against what they say is a blatant violation of rules by an umpire, requesting a replay of the National Hockey Championship quarter-final against Wapda.
Army team manager, Lt-Col Nadeem Ahmad submitted a written official protest to tournament director Hanif Khan, pleading that umpire Shoaib Riffat changed the decision after awarding a penalty corner to his team on the basis of “delay”.
“In the last minute of the match umpire Shoaib gave a decision which is in violation to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) rules. The penalty corner was awarded and the match finished during the process. The award of penalty corner was deferred/changed by the umpire on the plea of delay, whereas the match was finished.
“The jury was having tea at the time but they can always interfere on the wrong decisions. The umpire had shown favouritism. The match should be replayed and the umpire be punished,” the Army official wrote in the official protest.
The manager said it was a pre-planned move by Wapda as umpire Shoaib was posted instead of Ehsan Babar just five minutes before the start of the match.
“Umpire Ehsan was replaced by Shoaib five minutes before the match on Wapda’s objection. If Wapda had any doubts about any umpire they should have objected a day before when the posting was made.
“We should have been allowed to complete the penalty corner but Shoaib refused, saying that our player has `dodged’ which is absurd and in violation of FIH rules. I have told the tournament director and umpires manager Shamsuz Zaman who agrees that my protest is a genuine one. They were reluctant to give their decision in writing. But I have been told that decision will be taken tomorrow and I will get it in writing,” Lt-Col Nadeem told Dawn.
The Army manager, however, believed his side would not be allowed a replay but the umpire might be penalised for his blunder. “If that will be the case then I have videos of the match and all the evidence. I will raise this issue and pursue this case by approaching PHF for justice.”
The championship has been marred by a series of protests. Wapda and Sargodha earlier lodged protests against Steel Mills, claiming that the department had fielded four Wapda players in the match.