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Planet Field Hockey

By Sundeep A Lal

The euphoria of India's emphatic 7-4 win over Pakistan in the classic clash of the hockey titans in the Champions Trophy in Amsterdam buried an explosive incident.

In the match on Aug 22, Indian fans encroached on to the pitch in what has bizarrely been accepted by certain quarters as part of the game.

It's a culture, they say, and part of merry-making and jubilation especially when traditional rivals India and Pakistan play.

The Hindu had reported: When the hooter went, enthusiastic supporters jumped the barricade, and rushed into the pitch to greet the Indians giving the security guards a tough time.

But the reporter shockingly leads us to believe that the incident was acceptable, writing: " It was a scene that every hockey loving Indian was fortunate enough to behold. What a spectacle it was with the crowds etched against the background of this beautiful, rustic Wagener Stadium."

Seems like the media supports pitch invasion as this writer poetically captured the scenes of jubilation against the backdrop of the stadium.

There was not a word about this unhealthy scene of fans storming the pitch in other reports, except one, which said enthusiastic Indian fans invaded the pitch as if they had won the World Cup.

I am now wondering if the FIH or the host organizers had requested the media not to pursue the matter.

What action has the FIH taken against the hosts for the incident? Have the tournament officials, stadium security or the police given their report on the incident?

We should deplore the actions of the people who invaded the pitch instead of accepting it as a culture.

Let us not forget that it was an explosive match from the start and there were several heated moments on the pitch as well, fuelling emotions to hit feverish levels.

I will probably get hate mail and be slammed for bringing the pitch invasion into focus when everybody still talks about the classic encounter between the arch-rivals.

Yes, it is a great pity that my attention falls on the actions of the errant individuals who put the safety of the players and match officials at great risk.

This is always a concern and I do believe it is only a matter of time before a serious injury occurs on the field during such an invasion.

Die-hards will argue that this is in the culture of hockey in India and Pakistan for fans to run on at the end of a match.

In fact, they will go one step further to say that players and officials should get off the ground quickly.

If that's the attitude, then you are only licensing people  no matter how unruly they are - who don't like someone to have a free rein to do what they want.

I am sad that hockey's governing body failed to address the issue in Amstelveen.

The FIH appear not to recognise the problem. If they were concerned, they would have issued a press statement to the effect and indicate what action they are planning.

In Australia, it is a criminal offence for fans to come onto the playing arena as it is in England for fans to invade football pitches.

But the relevant legislation does not extend to hockey, or does it?

Cricket appears to ignore the matter, and fans even come onto the outfield for post-match presentation ceremonies as an accepted part of the game.

Is it time for the FIH to introduce an independent crowd safety observer?

Reporters in Amstelveen played down the scenes, perhaps naively attributing them to high spirits associated with the highly-anticipated derby game.

One reporter told me the Aug 22 incident could not be classified as pitch invasions. It was just a party, just merry-making.

He gleefully added that it happens all the time when India or Pakistan wins a match not necessarily when they play each other. The fans come on the pitch at a moment of great excitement.

In Amstelveen, those who encroached on to the pitch were fans sheer jubilation. This was not an invasion where fans were fighting each other or were attacking players.

In my opinion, it was an invasion and the incident should be treated seriously by the FIH.

Steps must be taken such as appointing a FIH crowd safety observer at major events.

Heavy fines should be imposed on host organizers who fail to provide adequate security measures.

But let's not dwell too long on this issue as the sooner we rid our sport of such incidents, the quicker the appeal of hockey will grow.

The Champions Trophy had wide TV coverage and the last thing we want now is for hockey to be branded negatively.

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