Hockey India slaps ban on domestic players indulging in unbecoming behavior

Players resorting to unsportsmanlike behavior on the Indian domestic hockey circuit aren’t a new thing. Players abusing or even manhandling umpires or staging a walkout have only served as a bad advertisement for the sport.

Hockey India in a bid to make players follow a certain code of conduct, has come down hard on erring players who have indulged in unbecoming behavior on the pitch. Hockey India’s Disciplinary Committee slapped banned various players and coaches for breaching the of code of conduct and bringing disrepute to the sport.

Former Indian striker Sarvanjit Singh is among several players who have been handed a six-month ban. The erring players will be on probation from October 2014 and any such uncalled for behavior will result in a one-year-ban.

Sarvanjit Singh and Karamjit Singh of Punjab & Sind Bank as well as Gurpreet Singh of Air India received the punishment for getting involved in a run-in during the 48th All India Bombay Gold Cup Tournament.

Indian Army’s Bachitter Singh was banned for six months for physically and verbally assaulting on-field umpire Virender Singh during the 3rdAll India Sahizada Ajit Singh Hockey Champions Trophy 2013.

Namdhari XI’s Harpreet Singh was banned from playing any tournament for a period of three months beginning April 1, 2014 on disciplinary grounds.

All the 16 members of the NC Railways women’s team have been banned for six months beginning April 1, 2014 for walking off the field and not continuing the match against Haryana XI during the India Invitation Prize Money Women Tournament held on February 28, 2014. Team Manager Pushpa Srivastava, was banned for six months, while the team coach Shradha Verma has been banned for nine months.

All the banned players will each have a chance to appeal against the decision within 30 days with an appeal to Hockey India Athletes Dispute & Grievance Redressal Committee.