NEW DELHI: Talk about going through the motions. Hockey India’s disciplinary committee Thursday served a 15-day suspension of former captain and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
His misdemenour: Sreejesh participated in a charity football match between a team of film actors and a team primarily of cricketers, organised by Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli in October while he was undergoing rehabilitation for a serious knee injury without seeking permission from HI.
Pertinently, the so-called ban was announced a day after India’s first choice goalkeeper was selected among the probables for a 10-day national camp before the team begins its season with the Four Nations Invitational Tournament in New Zealand.
But as said ban ends Friday, Sreejesh will miss all of one day of the camp.
Explaining the bizarre action, an HI official had this to say to PTI: “He (Sreejesh) was called for a hearing before the disciplinary committee on December 22, where he was found guilty of a Level 1 offence.
“The general sanction for a Level 1 offence is a month’s suspension but since he was remorseful and due to his stature in Indian hockey, the committee handed him a 15-day suspension with immediate effect.”
Hockey India statement in full:
The Hockey India’s disciplinary committee has today (Thursday) advised that action has been initiated on Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh for taking part in the Celebrity Charity Football Match in Mumbai last year without seeking permission from the governing body for hockey in India.
Though Sreejesh was not part of the national team during this period, the goalkeeper was undergoing rehabilitation for a serious knee injury sustained during the Sultan Azlan Shah Tournament in May, 2017. His decision of playing in the football match breaches Hockey India’s Code of Conduct for players and hence was handed a 15-day suspension which ends on 5 January 2018. He has also been reprimanded with a 12-month probation where he needs to ensure he abides by the Hockey India Code of Conduct.
