Bhubaneswar: Odisha defender Amit Rohidas will have to sit out of India’s semifinal contest against Germany at Paris Olympics on Tuesday due to a one-match ban for his red-card offence in the quarter clash against Great Britain.
“Amit Rohidas was suspended for one match for a breach of the FIH Code of Conduct which occurred during the India vs Great Britain match on August 4. The suspension affects match No. 35 (India’s semi-final match against Germany), where Amit Rohidas will not participate and India will play with a squad of 15 players only,” the FIH official statement read.
A suspension in hockey depends on the nature of the offence, unlike football where every red card leads to a one-game ban.
On Sunday, India played with a man short for 43 of the 60 minutes in the quarterfinal after the experienced defender and first rusher was shown the red card. Rohidas, one of the best defenders in world hockey against penalty corners, was challenged by Will Calnan from behind as he was dribbling in the midfield in the second minute of the second quarter. However, Rohidas’ stick was in an awkward position and hit Calnan on the head. After a discussion among themselves, the umpires flashed a straight red card at the Indian player without any kind of caution.
Harmanpreet Singh and side still managed to qualify for the semifinal, courtesy a 4-2 penalty shootout win.
Also Read: India Win QF On Penalties After Amit Rohidas’ ‘Red Card’ [Watch]
Meanwhile, Hockey India, the sport’s governing body in India, has filed an appeal over the decision. “Hockey India has officially raised concerns about the quality of umpiring and decision-making in the ongoing Paris Olympic Games 2024. The complaint focuses on a critical match between India and Great Britain, where several inconsistencies in officiating potentially influenced the game’s outcome,” the Federation said.
