Mumbai: The overriding aim of the
International Hockey Federation was to ensure a democratically
elected Hockey India officialdom through a free and fair
election on February 7, FIH President Leandro Negre said
today.
A few units of the suspended Indian Hockey Federation,
including Mumbai Hockey Association which was one of its
founder members and also hosted the World Cup almost three
decades ago, have moved the court following the refusal of
Hockey India to grant them affiliation before the elections.
"We are aware of the problem with affiliation. We have
not given any directive that only one unit per state can be
given affiliation (by Hockey India)," Negre told reporters
here.
"But these are domestic problems that can be solved
later. Our primary aim is to have a democratically elected FIH
president and board through a free and fair election on
February 7," he asserted.
The Spanish chief of FIH insisted that the apex body for
the sport in the world cannot interfere in the electoral
process.
"We are aware of the problem but we don't interfere in
domestic matters. It will be solved very soon after the
elections," insisted Negre.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 22:01