Hockey: Heuvel warned after losing his cool

Pakistan hockey coach reprimanded after loss in the final against India.

LAHORE: Pakistan hockey team’s head coach Michel van den Heuvel has been reprimanded by the Asian Champions Trophy Event Director Brian Fernandez for breaching the FIH code of conduct during the final of the event.

Pakistan lost to India on penalty strokes in the final and Heuvel was found shouting during the fiery contest. Although he escaped a suspension, Heuvel’s antics were deemed provocative.

“Heuvel was reprimanded and I’ll report it to the FIH,” Fernandez told The Express Tribune. “He was found breaching the code of conduct for his behaviour which resulted in a Level 1 penalty and given his clean record, he was let off with a warning. The other reports are unconfirmed and we neither have any evidence nor have we received any complaints against the Pakistan team and its management abusing the opponents and showing dissent towards the umpires. I understand that due to the fierce rivalry between the two countries, things may get out of hand but we always try and ensure the spirit of the game remains intact.”

Fernandez, though, confirmed that the event was overall a success and the Pakistan-India matches in the event generally ‘stole the show’.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th,  2011.