HKHAMS 20-21 Circular No. 19 - Disciplinary Actions against SSSC for Player Misconduct

Dear Conveners,

Men’s Section (MS) Committee noted during the premier match between SSSC A and HKFC A which was played at King’s Park Hockey Ground on 2nd May, 2021, a number of SSSC A players and one of the team official, Jasbir Singh, were abusing one of the umpires, Shahzad Rafaqat (”Rafi”), using foul language.  The situation soon went out of control, Rafi was pushed, punched and hit by stick.  The match was immediately stopped and later abandoned.  Rafi then called the ambulance and police.

The table below summarizes the offences.

After reviewing all the evidences including reports from umpires/MO/both teams, video recordings of the incident at the special meeting on 5th May, MS Committee concluded that:

1. the use of violence and the verbal abuses by the SSSC players against the appointed Umpire Rafi are totally unacceptable and have brought the game of hockey into disrepute. Together with the sub-par past disciplinary records of the SSSC players, MS Committee decided to suspend SSSC for the rest of the season with immediate effect based on the Section 15 of the MS General Bye-laws.  During the suspension period, all SSSC teams and players cannot play in any men’s hockey match.

1. Sidhu Singh (No. 15) had hit Umpire Rafi with his stick at his shoulder based on the video recording and umpire reports.  Apart from the disciplinary action mentioned in (1), the MS committee decided that he should not be registered for men’s hockey in the season 2021-22 according to Section 5.6 of the MS Competition Bye-laws. Sidhu will also be referred to the Disciplinary Committee (DC) according to Section 15 of the MS General Bye-laws for any further action that the DC might think fit, as his act might have brought the game of hockey into disrepute.

1. Lovepreet Singh (No. 48) had hit Umpire Rafi with his stick at his leg based on the reports from umpire and third party witness.  Apart from the disciplinary action mentioned in (1), the MS committee decided that he should not be registered for men’s hockey in the season 2021-22 according to Section 5.6 of the MS Competition Bye-laws. Lovepreet will also be referred to the DC according to Section 15 of the MS General Bye-laws for any further action that the DC might think fit, as his act might have brought the game of hockey into disrepute.

1. Badhuri Manpreet Singh (No. 32) had punched Umpire Rafi at his face based on the umpire report.  Apart from the disciplinary action mentioned in (1), the MS committee decided that he should not be registered for men’s hockey in the season 2021-22 according to Section 5.6 of the MS Competition Bye-laws. Manpreet will also be referred to the DC according to Section 15 of the MS General Bye-laws for any further action that the DC might think fit, as his act might have brought the game of hockey into disrepute.

1. Dhaliwal Gurjant Singh (No. 8) and Aulakh Navdeep Singh (No. 72) have threatened assault Umpire Rafi based on the umpire report.  Apart from the disciplinary action mentioned in (1), the MS decided to further suspend these two players for 3 more matches in the 2021-22 season.

1. Bibal Muhammad Mahmood (No. 64), the team captain of SSSC A, had failed to control his players from abusing Umpire Rafi, which is the captain’s responsibility according to the FIH Rules of Hockey 3.4. Apart from the disciplinary action mentioned in (1), the MS committee decided that he should be referred to the DC according to Section 15 of the MS General Bye-laws for any further action that the DC might think fit, as his failure have brought the game of hockey into disrepute.

1. Jasbir Singh, being a team official of SSSC A as well as player of SSSC B, had breached the HKHA Code of Conduct as his abusive behavior against the Umpire Rafi during the match was totally unacceptable.  Apart from the disciplinary action mentioned in (1), the MS committee agreed that he should be referred to the DC according to Section 15 of the MS General Bye-laws for any further action that the DC might think fit, as his act might have brought the Hong Kong hockey into disrepute.

Men’s Section strongly condemn the misbehaviors and use of violence by SSSC players. The disciplinary actions taken by the MS are unprecedented as we want to send the clear and strong message to the hockey community that Hooliganism has no place in Hong Kong hockey.

Regards,

Richard Mak

Chairman

HKHAMS