Intervene in IHF or forget World Cup: FIH to IOA

Lausanne, Apr 27 (UNI) The FIH today warned that the 2010 World Cup to be held in Delhi would be in jeopardy if strict action is not taken against the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).

Expresing shock after IHF secretary K Jothikumaran was caught on camera while accepting a bribe during a sting operation, FIH chief Els van Breda Vriesman said the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) or the sports ministry has to intervene in now if the future of the Promoting Indian Hockey Project and the 2010 World Cup is to be protected.

According to Vriesman, the world body cannot work with a federation whose top official was under investigation following a TV sting operation.

Earlier this month, the FIH had threatened to drop New Delhi as the venue of the 2010 World Cup because of India's dismal performances on the field which saw the Indian men's hockey team failing to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since 1932.

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