Motorcyclists run amok at Karachi Hockey stadium

Video released of the event shows motorcyclists doing rounds of stadium and damaging newly installed astro-turf

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has decided to take action against the management of a televised programme that was organised at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium if it is proved that the astro-turf there has been damaged.

An official of PHF, who was involved in the recently concluded Pakistan Cup 9-a-Side Hockey Tournament, told The Express Tribune that the programme was run after the closing ceremony of the tournament and no one was allowed to go in the field area of the turf, which is also called the blue area.



“They were clearly told that they cannot do anything on the field, not even walk on it, while the pink area was allowed for camera cranes only,” said the official. “However, they rode motorbikes on the pink area, which could have damaged the turf.”

He added that the PHF, after surveying the turf, will take action against the management of the program for damaging the Rs57.1 million turf, which was imported from the Netherlands by the Sindh Government.



The turf, which was inaugurated on December 25 last year with the 62nd Hockey National Championship organised as its inaugural tournament, was the fourth synthetic turf that has been laid at the Hockey Club of Pakistan during the last 37 years. The first was laid in 1979 ahead of the second PIA Champions Trophy that took place the following year.