Coach's apology saves Pakistan players from punishment for wild celebrations

Bhubaneswar: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) Saturday said that there will be no further action against Pakistani players as their coach tendered an apology for wild celebrations after their win against India in the hockey Champions Trophy semi-final at Kalinga stadium here. “Shahnaz Sheikh (Pakistan coach) has apologised and assured me that this behaviour will not occur again. Given these matters, I’ve decided that no further action is warranted,” said a release of Wiert Doyer, tournament director of the Hero Hockey Champions Trophy. After beating India 4-3, the Pakistan players celebrated opening their shirts while some players made unruly gestures towards the crowd. The FIH had ordered a probe against the behaviour of the Pakistani players after the game. [caption id=“attachment_1848633” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] “I have spoken to the head coach of the Pakistan team, Shahnaz Sheikh and told him that the behaviour of Pakistan players went beyond what is acceptable to standards of the FIH,” said the release. “The behaviour in question concerned many members of the Pakistan team. It is difficult to find any particular miscreant, and it is possible that the behaviour of the players may have been a reaction,” the statement added. Earlier, Indian coach Roelant Oltmans had disapproved the behaviour of Pakistani players. “The celebration looks little bit too much,” he said. Indian captain Sardar Singh said such things give a wrong message in hockey, which should not have happened in full of people in a stadium. However, Shahnaz apologised for the unruly behaviour. “I tender my apology for what happened after the game,” said the coach before leaving a press conference. He did not take any further question over the matter and left the conference in the middle. IANS