Hockey
Pakistan coach blames umpiring error after defeat to India
Pakistan lost 0-4 to India to crash out of the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy. But there was a contentious moment in the 2nd minute of the game.
Pakistan seemed to score to go 1-0 up in the first few minutes of the match, but the goal was disallowed (Screeenshot)
Chennai: Pakistan failed to register a single goal as India crashed four past them to send them out of the 2023 Hockey Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai on Wednesday. Their head coach, Muhammad Saqlain, however, claimed that Pakistan were in fact denied a legitimate goal in the second minute of the match because of an 'umpiring error' and that this error was responsible for changing the momentum of the match.
“Umpiring errors at this level is not justified. Our first goal was legitimate after the umpire had played the advantage. There was some miscommunication between the umpires and they got it wrong,” said head coach Saqlain in the mixed zone after the final round-robin league match.
“It is tough to come back against a strong team if some thing like this happens. India took the advantage of their first goal and carried the momentum throughout the game. I think if that first goal had gone in, it would have been a different story. But my boys played well and I believe they will only improve from here,” the coach added.
READ | Asian Champions Trophy: India 4-0 Pakistan at Full Time - As it happened
Pakistan seemed to have taken the lead in the match after just 90 seconds of play since the start of the first quarter, but the video umpire ruled it out, calling there had been dangerous play in the build-up to the goal. The on-field umpire had played an advantage to Pakistan.
Echoing his head coach’s sentiments, assistant coach Rehan Butt said, “Poor umpiring deposed the morale of young players, and it happened with us. We started very well, and it was clear that we were playing well but one wrong decision derailed our momentum.”
Captain Harmanpreet Singh's brace gave India the lead in the first half. Jugraj Singh and Akashdeep Singh scored in the second half to complete a 4-0 routing of Pakistan.
Speaking after the win, India head coach Craig Fulton, talking about the contentious decision, said, "That is why video referrals are impotant. Umpires gave their decision. We played well and defended well. So, that is important for us."
