M A I N   N E W S

India lose to New Zealand, cry foul
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Athens, August 21
India lost the race for a semifinal berth in the Olympic Games hockey competition here, with the umpires playing the villain in the match against New Zealand this morning.

India lost 1-2, conceding the decider from one of the four extra time penalty corners awarded against them, including one given by the umpire of the other half, transgressing his jurisdiction.

It was a record for the number of penalty corners to be awarded outside play time.

India lodged a formal protest against the Spanish umpire. "We have been cheated," fumed India's coach R. Gerhard.

Infuriated Indian spectators did not let the Spanish umpire Xavier Adell go for a while, shouting slogans against him. In fact, many decisions given by Xavier Adell were controversial, including awarding a penalty corner against India seconds before the gong sounded for the breather.

In the second half, he blew against India while New Zealand goalkeeper sat over the ball.

This is the second successive Olympics in which India have been unhappy with umpiring by a Spaniard. At Sydney, India had protested against Santiago Deo, who was at that time senior most hockey umpire.

India needed to win for an outside chance of qualifying for the semifinals.

The first half witnessed play in the midfield with both teams trying to settle down. For India, a chance to score came in the 20th minute when Gagan Ajit latched on to a pass by Dhanraj Pillay. He, however, failed to beat Paul Woolford in the Kiwi goal.

New Zealand playing with two players of Indian origin — Mitesh Patel and Umesh Parag — took the lead immediately after change of ends. Poor marking had left skipper Simon Townes ready for the ball at the top of the circle. His measured pass to Peter Burrows saw him scoring the first goal of the match.

When India got their first penalty corner in the 47th minute, Sandeep's powerful flick was deflected out. Ten minutes later, in the 58th minute, Deepak Thakur almost equalised as he wove his way into the striking circle and essayed a powerful shot that beat Kiwi goaltender but the hit the goalpost and bounced back into play.

Another penalty corner also failed to yield result.

India had to wait till the 61st minute for their third penalty corner when Arjun Halappa's flick was deflected into the goal by an alert Dhanraj Pillay.

Then came the controversial penalty corners. From the first award which came in the stipulated time but taken after the gong had sounded was cleared but umpire at the other end, Adell, intervened and made Ray O'Connor of Ireland change his decision of a free hit to a penalty corner again. This led to the yet another penalty corner as Indian goalkeeper was left sprawled with ball underneath him.

From a similar situation earlier, Adell had blown against India as Kiwi goalkeeper sat over the ball.

Then came the crucial blow. From the fourth extra time penalty corner, Hayden Shaw sounded the board with a neat flick that left the Indian defence paralysed.

The win may help New Zealand to move up the ladder, but for India, it was their third defeat as they have lost to Holland, Australia and now New Zealand. Their only success has been against South Africa.

India play winless Argentina in their last game on Monday.

Indian protest rejected

Wiert Doyer, Technical Director of the men's hockey competition, rejected India's protest holding that the controversial penalty corner was awarded during prolongation of the match.

Indirectly holding that umpire was the king of the game "as no protest may be made or considered by the technical delegate from the decision of an umpire during a match", Doyer held that umpire Ray O'Connor had awarded the second penalty corner after consulting umpire Adell even though the ball had been played over the backline.

Doyer agreed that the ball had crossed the backline and umpire O'Connor had signaled as such. "However, a penalty corner was awarded following advice from the other umpire, Adell. Accordingly, I have determined that the match remained prolonged, as none of the circumstances leading to termination of play had occurred.

"I am firmly of the view that the match had not ended. As such, it prohibits me from considering the protest," Doyer said in his statement.

New Zealand b India 2-1
Australia b SA 3-2
Holland b Argentina 4-2
Spain b Pakistan 4-0