unfair and illogical ban on our players by "Goras".
Shivendra ban unfair: Brasa
New Delhi, March 1: Indian coach Jose Brasa had harsh words for tournament director Ken Read, saying the three-match suspension for striker Shivendra Singh was enormous and uncalled for.
The penalty is huge. The three-match suspension means, we will play half of our World Cup matches with only 15 players. That is a huge penalty for a player, who did not do anything on purpose. It was a normal movement of the stick, Brasa said.
Although participating teams are allowed a squad of 18 of whom 16 can play on a particular day FIH rules state that a team will play with only 15 if a player is suspended.
I know for sure that this in not the umpires decision, the Pakistan team did not ask for it, so who does it? If one saw the Australia-England match before that, there was a lot of physical play that could have asked for a penalty. But no one did a thing. So why penalise us? I am seeing such a thing for the first time in my life, he said.
Talking about the Australia game, Brasa said the ban could affect the performance of his home team on Tuesday.
We are left with 15 players for three games. And that means we are one player less for substitution, and thus the players would be less fresh and fit than a normal game, he said.
Tournament director Read said in his statement that he wanted to set an example for other teams by penalising Shivendra.
Asked Brasa, Are India the only ones who need to be treated like this? It is not our problem. You can set examples against Australia, Spain, Holland or any other team if you want to. Why penalise a team who are very polite on the field?
A three-member jury, including FIH president Leandro Negre, will look into the matter after Hockey India appealed against the ban. I am hoping for a reduction in the ban, if not a total revocation, said Brasa.
Former India captain Zafar Iqbal criticised the decision and said such unfair rulings were not surprising for the sub-continent teams. It was a harsh decision and I dont know on what basis they have given it. There was hardly any protest by Pakistani players, Zafar said.
Former player Aslam Sher Khan agreed with Zafar, saying it was deliberately done to down Indias morale ahead of the match against Australia.
They (FIH) used to do it earlier in umpiring but with the video referral system in place this time, they opted for other means, Aslam said.