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Report still pending on Games' field hockey incident
VANCOUVER (CP) -- It could be December before a three-member panel decides if disciplinary action will be meted out to any members of the men's field hockey team stemming from an ugly incident at the end of a match at last month's Commonwealth Games.Field Hockey Canada hopes to have the final panel member named within the next week, Suzzanne Nicholson, the association's senior manager, said Wednesday from Ottawa.
The three will be supplied with reports of the game-ending melee from coach Shiaz Virjee and tournament technical director Peter Crane, plus television footage of the episode.
The panel has 21 days to hold hearings and render a decision. It can also seek a time extension if needed.
Virjee expects some sanction to come out of the hearings.
"I think so but I really don't know for a fact," he said in Vancouver.
"It's like any time somebody is charged with something you think something is going to happen."
The panel can order sanctions ranging from a letter of warning, a suspension or expulsion from the association.
Any ruling can be appealed.
The field hockey team was engulfed in controversy after losing 2-1 to Malaysia on a disputed goal that knocked Canada out of medal contention at the Kuala Lumpur Games.
Team captain Peter Milkovich was ejected for arguing the winning goal with Scottish umpire David Wallis. At the end of the game Wallis, goaltender Mike Mahood and several other screaming players confronted Wallis.
While the players milled around the umpire Mahood collided with a Malaysian player who was on his knees praying.
Television replays showed Mahood kneeing the player. Mahood denied any deliberate contact.
Virjee has studied the replays and supports Mahood.
"I've played it in slow motion. I think he didn't knee him," Virjee said.
"I think there was some contact but I don't see it as a premeditated thing. I'm certainly sorry it happened."
A sellout crowd watching the game peppered the Canadians with bottles and cans as they left the field.
Mahood later said he regretted the incident. Team officials apologized and paid about $100 to repair a dented door and bent signpost at the stadium.
Pictures of the confrontation with the umpire were splashed across Canadian newspapers.
Nicholson denied the panel was formed because of the international attention the incident garnered.
"It would appear from the reports we have that the actions were outside our code of conduct," she said.
"That will be for the disciplinary panel to rule on."
Virjee supports establishing the panel.
"You have to see if there is something you can learn from the situation," he said.
"The only way you're going to find this is if you have some kind of review. If disciplinary action has to be taken then it has to be taken. If not, you've put it to bed."