2 Pakistan players suspended from Champions Trophy final for obscene gestures
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) finally took a decision on Sunday by handing a one-match suspension to two Pakistan players for their obscene celebration after their semifinal win against India in the Champions Trophy.
The two players are Muhammad Tousiq and Ali Amjad, who will miss out of playing in the final against Germany later in the evening at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. A statement from the FIH said evidence of the breach was found through photos on social media.
However, another player Safqat Rasool has been reprimanded by the international hockey body for his behaviour. All the three players have accepted their guilt.
Amjad and Tousiq were guilty of making obscene gestures with their middle fingers towards a packed gallery, an action that has been photographed and is now documented.
"After the conclusion of the semi-final match between India and Pakistan, Amjad Ali was seen making obscene body gestures that are considered to be obscene, the evidence of which surfaced after the initial statement was issued on 14 December at midnight," the FIH said in a statement.
"Amjad Ali accepts the breach of the code of conduct. The attitude of the team member at the hearing was good, with Pakistan tendering a written apology to the community of hockey. The seriousness of the offence falls within Level 1 of FIH rules and regulations and according to the Code of Conduct of Level 1 offence one match suspension is imposed on Ali Amjad.
"He is suspended for the next match that Pakistan will play in the relevant tournament," the statement further read.
The FIH further said that Tousiq committed the same offence and has been handed out the same punishment as Ali.
"Tousiq was seen making gestures that are considered to be obscene (raising the middle finger to spectators on the stands) whose evidence surfaced after the initial statement was issued on 14 December at midnight," it stated.
After beating India 4-3, the Pakistan players made obscene gestures towards Indian fans and media but no action was taken then against them by the FIH after their coach Shahnaz Sheikh offered an apology.
The players went into a frenzy celebration after their victory. They removed their shirts, used foul language and made obscene gestures towards the crowd and media, prompting their coach to intervene and take away his players.
Hockey India (HI) objected this behaviour and was not happy with FIH not taking action against such act.
"It was a shameless and condemnable incident but the FIH took a very weak and feeble decision. It is not acceptable to us. We have made it clear to FIH that such sort of behaviour from sportspersons is not acceptable to Indians," HI president Narinder Batra had commented earlier in the day.
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