Hockey India calls emergency Executive Board meeting on September 18 to resolve infighting
Hockey India has called its 119th Executive Board meeting for 3pm on September 18 at the federation’s New Delhi office to try to resolve differences among senior officials after a string of recent controversies; the meeting was convened by secretary Bhola Nath Singh on the direction of president Dilip Tirkey.
The dispute surfaced publicly after a change in the Indian teams’ jersey colour from blue to saffron ahead of the recently concluded FIH World Cup, which Tirkey said was made without his knowledge and without Executive Board approval. Tirkey issued a show-cause notice to Hockey India Director General Cdr R K Srivastava, stripped him of his powers with immediate effect, and listed eight charges against him; Srivastava has been given four weeks to respond.
An emailed notice to Executive Board members, a copy of which is with PTI, sets out the meeting time and lists the future of the Hockey India League (HIL) as one of the most important agenda items, noting the competition has struggled amid disagreements over its administration. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met Tirkey and HIL franchise owners on Monday and asked them to prepare a roadmap for both the men’s and women’s leagues.
A five-member panel has been tasked with developing a proposed governance and financial model for the HIL after franchise owners pushed for a greater role in the league’s running and expressed dissatisfaction with Hockey India’s management. One proposal under discussion would convert the HIL into a joint venture, creating a separate company, HIL Pvt Ltd, with Hockey India holding 40 percent equity and the franchises collectively holding 60 percent.
Another proposal is to establish a new Governing Council for the league, with a chairman and two members from Hockey India alongside two representatives from each franchise to oversee administration. The restructuring of the HIL could therefore be one of the biggest decisions to emerge from the September 18 meeting, and the Executive Board will also address Hockey India elections, including the appointment of an Electoral Officer to oversee the process.
The board is scheduled to consider and approve Hockey India’s balance sheet and income and expenditure accounts for the 2025-26 financial year, and the hosting of this year’s men’s and women’s Asian Champions Trophy will be discussed with Jalandhar, Mohali and Bhopal among the venues being considered. Tirkey’s action against Cdr R K Srivastava will be formally placed before the Executive Board; the notice alleges privileged and confidential Hockey India information and records were leaked to the public through the media and social media.
The Executive Board will meet at 3pm on September 18 at the Hockey India office in New Delhi to take up the disciplinary matter concerning Cdr R K Srivastava, the proposed HIL restructuring and the federation’s financial and hosting decisions.