PHF mulls legal action against FIH over Junior World Cup expulsion

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is considering filing a case with the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Geneva against the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for expelling it from the Junior World Cup being held in India from December 8 to 18.

A reliable source in the federation said on Thursday that consultations had started with legal experts as the PHF had spent millions of rupees on preparing its national junior side to first qualify for the World Cup and travel to India.

“Nothing is decided as yet but it could happen. Because the PHF is clear that the FIH which is headed by an Indian, Narender Batra has dealt unjustly with it,” the source said.

The FIH has announced it has dropped Pakistan from the World Cup in Lucknow, saying the PHF had not fulfilled confirmation requirements before the given deadline for teams.

Shahbaz told the committee that all legal and rightful steps will be taken against the decision. “We are not going to take this lying down. It is unfair with us and has hurt our hockey,” he told the committee.