FIJI DEBACLE: MHF write to FIH for play-off..

THE Fiji men's hockey team have withdrawn for the Oceania Olympic Qualifier, and this has prompted the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) to put forward a playoff proposal to the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The MHF feel that the current Olympic Qualifier criteria should be reviewed as now only Australia and New Zealand will play in the Oceania Cup, which offers two tickets to the Olympics.
In contrast the Asian Games, which has five of the top-15 teams in the world, offers only one seat to the Olympics and Pakistan won it by beating Malaysia 2-0.
MHF secretary Maninderjit Singh wrote to FIH Competitions Manager Martyn Gallivan: "As part of the FIH CEO Forum Team, I would like to suggest the current Olympic Qualification criteria to be analysed again in order to address Fiji's withdrawl from the Oceania Cup.
"MHF's suggestion is to have a one-off or best of three play-off between the runners-up of the Asian Games and runners-up of the Australia-New Zealand match."
And to justify MHF's request, five points were raised.
1. Only one direct slot was given to Asia via the 2010 Asian Games, while Oceania has two direct slots.
2. Ten teams competed in the 2010 Asian Games, while only three for the Oceania Cup (before Fiji withdrew).
3. Five teams from Asia are ranked in the top-15 bracket in the world (South Korea, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and China).
4. The Asian Games is high standard tournament as the Asian Hockey Federation organised a qualifying round.
Maninderjit also said: "While I am aware that the decision of the three Qualifiers and the teams (pools) shall be made known on Nov 8, I still feel the above proposal is rationale with valid points to review the Qualifying criteria.
"Malaysia will be ever willing to assist and to host the play-off matches between Malaysia and New Zealand or Australia."
The FIH have yet to release news of Fiji's withdrawl on their website, but Oceania Cup hosts Tasmania has confirmed it with a press statement.
"Hockey Tasmania has expressed its disappointment that Fiji has withdrawn both its national teams from next month's Olympic qualifying tournament in Hobart.
"The announcement, blamed on 'government and corporate financial constraints' in Fiji, means both the Kookaburras (Australian men) and Hockeyroos (Australian women) receive automatic qualification to the 2012 London Games.
"Fiji's women's team had already withdrawn but the addition of the men's team renders the Oceania Cup a two-horse race in both genders."