Steps to check violence during sports competitions

Chandigarh, May 7: Organisers of sports competitions, including associations and federations will have a ban of five years slapped on them if they fail to check repeated violence or reoccurance of ugly incidents during sports competitions held or staged in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

This order of the Chandigarh Administration clearly implies that such organisers would not be allowed to stage sports competitions or tournaments in any of the UT stadia for a period of five years, from the occurance of such incidents.

The Chandigarh Sports Department has incorporated new clauses for permitting sports associations, federations and organisations to conduct district, state, national and international competitions.

These clauses have been introduced with a view to contain unruly and disgraceful behaviour of players or organisers on and off the field.

Under the new rules and regulations of allotment of stadia, the Administration has specified clearly that in case of repeated occurrence of unruly incidents during competitions, the organisers would be barred for five years to play or organise tournaments in any Chandigarh sports complex.

Stating this here today, Chandigarh Sports Director-cum-Additional Deputy Commissioner Inderjit Singh Sandhu said "the basic object is that the organisers must takeresponsibility of keeping the players and teams under their total control to avert any ugly incident."

The Sports Director disclosed that in the first instance (of violence) the play would be suspended till semblance was restored. The other condition incorporated is that where such an incident reoccurs, the match would be scrapped and it would be replayed. "In case the incidents are repeated, the tournament will be suspended," Mr Sandhu warned and added that such organisers will not be allowed to hold any competition for five years in any stadium in Chandigarh.

"It is the primary responsibility of the organisers to keep their players under control. Things do happen in spurt of the moment but the situation should not go out of hand and lead to violence as happened in the Premier Hockey League (PHL) in January this year," Mr Sandhu said.

The Chandigarh Administration took a serious view of the incident which marred the PHL last best-of-three final between runners-up Sher-e-Jalandhar and winners Orissa Steelers. The Sher-e-Jalandhar players manhandled and assaulted international local umpire Satinder Sharma at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium.

Annoyed at the ugly incident, Punjab Governor Gen (Retd) S F Rodrigues, who is also Administrator of UT Chandigarh, spoke to Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president K P S Gill. The IHF immediately slapped a 50 per cent fine on the prize money of Rs 15 lakh on Sher-E-Jalandhar.

Later, the IHF, after receiving a detailed report of the incident from the Tournament Director and internationalGrade I umpire Shakeel Qureshi of Bhopal, suspended three Jalandhar players-- Kamaldeep Singh, Maninder Singh Tejbir Singh for three years from domestic and international competitions. These players have been also suspended for life from PHL.

Meanwhile, Joint Director, Sports, Dr J P S Sidhu said that manager of the stadium where an ugly incident occurred would take immediate steps to implement the conditions. Observer of the Chandigarh Sports Council will also submit a detailed report of any violent incident to the authorities for necessary action.

UNI