- August 4, 2024
Amit Rohidas’ Olympic semifinal participation in doubt after red card | Paris Olympics 2024 News – Times of India
During the quarterfinal encounter against Great Britain on Sunday, Rohidas received a rare red card, which resulted in his dismissal from the pitch nearly 40 minutes before the end of the game.The incident occurred when his stick accidentally made contact with an opposing player.
Unlike football, where a red card automatically disqualifies a player from the subsequent match, the consequences of receiving a red card in hockey are determined through a review process.
The umpire will submit a report to the technical delegate, who will then examine the footage to assess whether the foul was committed intentionally or not.
If the foul is deemed intentional after the review, Rohidas will be prohibited from participating in the semifinal match. This potential absence would be a significant blow to the Indian team’s prospects, given his important role as a key defender and first rusher.
“The decision would depend on the severity of the incident,” said an official, as quoted by PTI.
India’s chief coach, Craig Fulton, expressed his full support for his player, even though he was currently uncertain about the cause of the situation.
“I need to look at it, speak to him. But obviously, if someone gets hit to the head, something’s wrong. But I will stand up for Amit. He’s not that kind of player.
“You’ve always got to look where there’s smoke, there’s fire. So, what happened first, for that to happen and we’ll just look to that. Not the other way,” Fulton said after India beat Great Britain 4-2 in shoot-out after both the sides were locked 1-1 at the end of regulation 60 minutes.
Great Britain goalkeeper’s Ipad controversy in shoot-out
During the tense penalty shoot-out against India, Great Britain goalkeeper Ollie Payne had his iPad removed from the pitch after it was discovered he was using it to review notes before each penalty.
After a few minutes of confusion regarding the situation, the device was handed over to the Great Britain assistant coach.
The Indian team’s shooting performance remained unaffected, with captain Harmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, and Rajkumar Pal successfully converting their attempts. However, Great Britain’s chances of advancing in the tournament were dashed when they missed both of their shots following the incident.
Conor Williamson’s reverse hit sailed over the goal, while Phil Roper took an excessive amount of time to take his shot, which was easily blocked by India’s goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh.
“It’s not something that we do. But I need to find out what actually happened. I don’t have all the facts,” said Fulton without making much fuss.
Hockey India officials were furious but chose not to file an official protest. Nonetheless, they have expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation.
“These incidents have undermined confidence in the officiating process among players, coaches, and fans. Hockey India calls for a thorough review of these matters to uphold the integrity of the sport and ensure fair play in future matches,” an HI statement read.
