Champions Trophy to have TV umpire

LUCKNOW: The Champions Trophy, scheduled from August 16 in Amstelveen, will see a TV umpire for the first time. Kukoo Walia, the FIH umpires manager and a member of the Asian Hockey Umpires Board, said the TV umpire was used on an experimental basis at the Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia earlier this year. Peter von Reth, a member of Hockey Rules Board of FIH, however, was not required to give any verdict.
Walia said there are only three situations in which the TV umpire can be referred to —
1.Was the ball inside the striking circle when the shot was taken at the goal.
2. Did the ball touch the stick of an attacker before going into the goal.
2. Did the ball go into the goal.
Talking about umpiring at the domestic level, Walia wants the umpires to be given more protection by the Indian Hockey Federation. "The players when they go abroad or figure in the international tournaments take all the decisions gracefully.
"If a player opens his mouth or dissents against a decision, he knows he would be sent out immediately. So he keeps quiet," added Walia.
"But the players at various all-India tournaments behave aggressively. They abuse and in some cases even manhandle them. So I would like the federation to be very strict on such erring players. There should be a provision to suspend the players for two-three matches for misconduct," he opined.
Walia said that the younger generation should be encouraged to take up umpiring. "Persons in early twenties should be initiated into this profession. One requires about eight to ten years to become international. But in India, a player when he has given up playing tries to join the umpiring. Even if he manages to achieve a certain level, he will be close to the retirement age of 47.
"So all his efforts may be too late in acquiring international status," said Walia, the son of umpiring legend Gian
Singh.
Walia feels that there should be seminars and clinics on umpiring on regular basis. The IHF has conducted some clinics or seminars but they need to be organised frequently and must have participation of coaches too.
"The most important thing is that these seminars should be attended by coaches as well. Exploiting rules can help a coach form his team''s strategy for matches better."
Recalling one incident during his father Gian Singh''s time, he said Gian Singh was made the coach of Thailand team in 1970. He used three-man offside rule by placing a sweeper behind two defenders and forced a mighty Pakistan to share points, Walia recounted.