PHF lambasts Belgian umpires, could invite FIH wrath

Karachi, Jun 9 (PTI) The Pakistan Hockey Federation could find itself in trouble with the game's world governing body -- the FIH -- after its national team manager and media manager lambasted Belgian umpires for being "sub-standard" during a preparatory tournament for the Beijing Olympics. The comments came after Belgium beat Pakistan 3-2 in a hockey Test in Antwerp at the weekend on Pakistan's preparatory tour of Europe ahead of the Beijing Olympics. Altaf Sabir, PHF media manager, gave out a statement which was headlined -- "Sub-standard umpiring cost Pakistan against Belgium in first hockey Test." "Atrocious umpiring decisions helped Belgium to carve out 3-2 win against Pakistan in the first hockey Test at Dragon Hockey Club ground on Saturday," the statement read. "Both the local umpires Lional Van Lidth de Jeude and Gregory Uyttenhove gave decisions that smacked favouritism and that was deplorable," Sabir fumed. This could land him in serious trouble as the International Hockey Federation (FIH) does not allow team officials, players or member federations to openly criticise umpires or match officials or question their decisions. In such cases, the concerned federation or team officials are supposed to pass their complaints about umpires to the tournament director in writing. Khawaja Zakauddin, the team's manager was also quoted as saying that the umpiring had left a bad taste in the mouth. "If you see that kind of umpiring. There were no honours at stake and I believe that the umpires should have umpired the match with clean mind," said Zakauddin, Pakistan, after their Belgian leg of the tour, fly out toIreland Monday to take part in four-Nation Hockey Tournament.