Negre has come to India with vested interest: KPS Gill

The Indian Hockey Federation on Thursday alleged that FIH president Leandro Negre has come to India with some vested interest in mind and termed his statement that IHF should join and support the Hockey India (HI) as "shocking and absurd".

"Negre's statement that he does not wish to involve in the dispute between the IHF and HI but the IHF should join and support HI is shocking and absolutely absurd. This clearly shows the intent and bias of the FIH towards the illegal Hockey India (HI). The IOC must take a note of his visit which is clearly with vested interest in mind," IHF patron and chief advisor KPS Gill said in a statement.

Gill, in his scathing criticism of HI secretary general Narinder Batra, alleged that the now suspended IOA vice-president has been the pivot of the illegal IOA elections, which went against the directives of the IOC.

"It is absolutely shocking to see Negre going around with Batra visiting the various venues of the Hockey India League in the country. The now suspended IOA and the FIH have been solely responsible for the creation of this illegal HI and the FIH gave it affiliation violating their own statues," he said.

Gill said the discrimination in the selection of the Indian team for the London Olympics by deliberately keeping out the IHF-promoted World Series Hockey (WSH) players is solely responsible for the debacle at the quadrennial event.

"Batra is only to be blamed for it (London Games) as he did so with the sole intent to destroy the IHF and due to his vindictive attitude towards WSH players, the national team has already suffered," he said.

Gill, however, welcomed the selection of drag-flicker Gurjinder Singh, who was named the player of the tournament in last year's WSH, in the 18-member Indian squad for the Hockey World League Round 2 to be held in New Delhi from February 18 to 24.

He also pointed out the discrimination faced by the Indian officials in the ongoing HIL.

"The Indian officials in the HIL have been complaining about the discrimination while the foreign officials are being paid much higher and also given better facilities than the Indian umpires," he alleged.