MCT: No action against Australia for missing Champions's Trophy 
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| International Hockey Federation |
December 10, 2004 
Hindustan Times
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The International Hockey Federation on Friday ruled out any action against Olympic gold medallists Australia for their refusal to participate in the Champions Trophy, which is getting underway in Lahore.
FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman said the game's governing body could have hardly done anything to ensure Australia's participation after they did not accept the invitation citing security reasons.
"They did not accept the invitation in the first place. They could not travel due to their government instructions. We in FIH don't control governments," Vriesman told reporters here.
"No hockey federation, be it Australian, Pakistani or Indian, do not control its government. So we have to accept the situation," she said.
Vriesman, who was re-elected president of the FIH for four more years just a week ago, said she was satisfied with the security scenario here.
"We are feeling very secured and that's a good feeling. Lot of questions about security were also raised during the Athens Olympics. But it went off smoothly," she said.
"I am not the proper person to judge about the security arrangements. It's the lookout of the Pakistan government and it is doing the job."
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