Rogue league organisers threaten legal action against FIH

Organisers of a rebel Indian hockey league are considering legal action against the game's governing body after it ordered member countries to keep their players out of the competition or face Olympic exclusion.

Bankrolled by Nimbus Sports television channel and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), World Series Hockey is set to get underway in November with around 10 franchises vying for USD 1 million in prize money. The Indian federation forfeited International Hockey Federation (FIH) recognition in 2008 and has since been replaced by Hockey India. Organisers paraded India captain Rajpal Singh and some of his team mates when launching the league in Mumbai last month but the FIH has threatened to ban member countries from all major events, including Olympic Games, if they allowed players to compete in the rogue league. "There appears to be a Hockey India-FIH nexus," IHF Secretary General Ashok Mathur told Reuters on Thursday. "The IHF has been revived by a High Court order, which is binding on the government and the Indian Olympic Association as well. We are the genuine body authorised to run hockey in the country." The game's governing body could not simply stop a player from earning a living, he added. "This is an unnecessary interference and we are consulting our lawyers. We have got a huge response from overseas players and I don't think there should be any threat to the event." Sanction The governing FIH said on its website it had written to its members on Monday, asking them to steer clear of the rogue league or face sanctions. "FIH has received reports from some national associations that some of their players have been approached from agencies supposing to represent franchises that will participate in the new league," it said. Any player or national association that participated in the World Series Hockey might be barred from participating in an FIH tournament, including the Olympic Games, it added Pakistan Hockey Federation President Qasim Zia has been quoted in local media as saying that none of their players would take part in the rebel league. The FIH said it was already working on an official professional league in India in collaboration with the Indian federation. "Hockey India is now the only body governing hockey in India recognised by the FIH and the Indian Olympic Association," it said Indian hockey is a far cry from its glorious past when the men's team won eight Olympic golds. The Indian Olympic Association disbanded the IHF in 2008 after its then secretary general was caught on camera taking a bribe to select a player, which also prompted the governing body to no longer recognise its authority in India. Hockey India was created and organised the 2010 men's World Cup but IHF officials pursued the matters through the courts and the body was restored last year.