Hockey India issues ultimatum to players

India’s revolting hockey players were on Monday served with a 24-hour deadline to resume practice or face disciplinary action as the entire squad began an indefinite boycott of the World Cup preparatory camp over a payment dispute.

Peeved by the fresh strike, Hockey India, the game’s governing body, threatened to crack the whip by warning the players to return to the camp by Tuesday evening but the players seemed to be in no mood to relent till their demands were met.

A top HI source said that the players have been given a 24-hour deadline to return to the camp or face disciplinary action but senior player Prabhjot Singh, who has been appointed by his teammates as their representative for the negotiations, said they had not received any such ultimatum.

“We have not received any communication and I don’t know about any ultimatum. I cannot comment on it unless we get something directly from them. It’s all hypothetical,” he said even as the players went ahead with their threat to stay away from the camp until their dues and incentives were paid.

Meanwhile, HI president AK Mattoo said suspension is an option. “Suspension is an option. I can use it today, tomorrow or any other day but I feel they are being misled and wrongly advised. I don’t want this to happen,” AK Mattoo said in New Delhi.

“We have taken note of their issues and I have opened up about whatever (money) we have with us, which has never been done before. They know we do not have a sponsor. I see no reason why they have taken this route,” he said.

Sources in Pune said that HI had an additional list of 22 players and had bluntly told the players to give in writing whether they would be attending the camp.

“The players were told that another squad had been prepared and those who wanted to continue playing should report to the camp. But the players refused to do so,” the source said.

It is expected that HI delegation headed by AK Mattoo, Harish Sharma, Narender Batra and Jagbir Singh will meet the players in Pune either on Monday night or Tuesday morning.

Chief coach Jose Brasa sought to steer clear of the controversy which has rocked the preparations for the mega event, saying it was a matter between the players and HI. Brasa, however, pleaded for an early settlement of the issue.