New Delhi: After much criticism from all
quarters, the International Hockey Federation on Wednesday accepted
that the newly-introduced referral system has some grey areas
which need to be ironed out before making it a permanent part
of the game.
In a media summit organised here on the sidelines of the
hockey World Cup, FIH Umpires' Manager Clive McMurray said the
referral system would be analysed after the ongoing mega
event.
"The referral system has come up with some issues but it
is very much in trial stage. The system has some grey areas
and we (FIH) completely understand that," McMurray said at a
city hotel.
"Any rule can be problematic while interpreting. That is
happening here. The referral system is not to make the game
error free but to eliminate gross errors and decision which
can change the result of a match," he said.
The South African umpire, however, came in support of his
colleagues and said the field officials are doing their job
with utmost sincerity.
"The umpires are here to serve the game and not to be
bullies. They are here to promote the game of hockey. They are
here to make it more attractive and entertaining spectacle.
They are here to ensure that the teams play their part in all
decisions," McMurray said.
The referral system, introduced for the first time in a
World Cup here after making its debut in the Champions Trophy
in Australia last year, has been under the scanner right from
the start of the tournament.
Not only India coach Jose Brasa and his Australian
counterpart Ric Charlesworth were the strong protesters of the
system, it also irked South African captain Austin Smith who
termed it "bizarre and imperfect".
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 17:47