The Indian men’s hockey team secured a coveted spot in the Olympics semi-finals with a dramatic victory over Great Britain on Sunday. Despite being a player short for most of the match, India held on for a 1-1 draw before triumphing 4-2 in a penalty shootout. India now sets its sights on reaching the final for the first time in 44 years, but facing Germany will be a challenging task, especially with only 15 players available instead of the usual 16.
During the quarter-final clash, India’s defender Amit Rohidas received a red card in the second quarter after a controversial swing of his stick caught Great Britain’s Will Calnan. Following a video review, the referee decided on the red card, ruling Rohidas out for the remainder of the match.
India has filed a complaint regarding the red card decision, but Rohidas has been handed a one-match suspension under the FIH Code of Conduct. This means India will compete in the semi-final against Germany with a reduced squad of 15 players.
The official FIH statement confirmed, “Amit Rohidas has been suspended for one match for breaching the FIH Code of Conduct during the India vs. Great Britain match on August 4. The suspension affects match No. 35 (India’s semi-final against Germany), where Rohidas will not participate, leaving India with a squad of 15 players.”
Hockey India has expressed dissatisfaction with the umpiring decisions during the quarter-final, which they believe nearly jeopardized their semi-final berth. They have raised concerns about “the quality of umpiring and decision-making” and cited “several inconsistencies in officiating” that may have impacted the game’s outcome.
