India were reduced to 10 men in the second quarter after Amit Rohidas was sent off. India won the game via penalty shoot-out.
New Delhi: Hockey India has raised a concern to the Paris Olympics 2024 organising committee about the quality of umpiring during India vs Great Britain quarterfinal encounter which the Men in Blue via a penalty shootout after both teams ended at 1-1 at regulation time. The complaint focused on several inconsistencies in officiating potentially influenced the game’s outcome, including a red card to defender Amit Rohidas in the second quarter. As a result, India had to play with 10 men for 42 minutes.
Rohidas was sent off after he hit an opposition player Will Calnan with his stick on his face. To by naked eye it seemed Calnan got hit on his face when Rohidas tried to lift his stick for a shot, but the TV umpires deemed it to be intentional, thus showing him the direct red card. Calnan recovered soon after and continued with the game.
Hockey India were unhappy with the decision certainly. “Inconsistent video umpire reviews, particularly regarding the red card decision for an Indian player, which has eroded trust in the video review system,” Hockey India said in a statement.
That wasn’t all. During the shootout, Great Britain’s goalkeeping coach was also heard giving tips to the goalkeeper Ollie Payne. To add to that, Payne was also caught on camera using a tablet during the shoot-out
“These incidents have undermined confidence in the officiating process among players, coaches, and fans. Hockey India calls for a thorough review of these matters to uphold the integrity of the sport and ensure fair play in future matches,” it added.
India will play the winner of quarterfinal match between Germany and Argentina in the semifinals.
