The beleaguered Indian Hockey Federation came under fresh attacks from the FIH on Sunday, 28 April as it threatened to cancel promoting the Indian Hockey Project and the 2010 World Cup incase the IOA failed to clear the IHF mess. The FIH expressed its disappointment on Indian hockey’s condition just one day before the IOA was to deliberate on the bribe scandal involving suspended IHF secretary K Jothikumaran.

 

Hinting at the recent TV expose that showed IHF secretary K Jothikumaran accepting money for inducting a player, the FIH chief Els van Breda Vriesman said the world body can not work with a federation whose top official was under investigation following a TV sting operation. The FIH chief remarked that sting operation was never heard of in the world of field hockey.

 

Els van Breda Vriesman added that she hoped that the Indian hockey got itself positive publicity. She informed that the FIH was in constant touch with both International Olympic Committee and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on how to handle this situation. The FIH chief said she was not demanding people to step down, but pointed out that the IOA or the Sports Ministry would have to step in now if the future of Promoting Indian Hockey Project and 2010 World Cup was to be protected.