India’s Amit Rohidas gets one-match ban; set to miss Paris 2024 Olympics hockey semi-finals
India defender and first rusher Amit Rohidas has been banned for one match at the Paris 2024 Olympics hockey tournament and will now be missing the semi-finals match against Germany on Tuesday.
The ban was on the back of Amit Rohidas receiving a red card in the Indian hockey team’s quarter-finals match against Great Britain on Sunday.
“Amit Rohidas was suspended for one match for a breach of the FIH Code of Conduct which occurred during the India vs Great Britain match on August 4,” the FIH official statement read.
“The suspension affects match No. 35 (India’s semi-final match against Germany), where Amit Rohidas will not participate and India will play with a squad of 15 players only.”
Hockey India appealed against this decision to the FIH jury bench, but it was rejected on Monday.
"Now, these things are not in our control," captain Harmanpreet Singh said. "While it is a setback to not have Amit on the pitch for the semis, we are focused on the task at hand."
In the 17th minute of the quarter-finals match against Great Britain, the 31-year-old Amit Rohidas engaged in a midfield duel against Will Calnan. In an attempt to flee the British forward, Rohidas’ swinging hockey stick across Calnan’s face.
Although the on-field referee did not rule it to be a serious offence, the decision was changed to a red card after video referral.
The Indian men’s hockey team scored a few minutes later courtesy of skipper Harmanpreet Singh, but their goal was cancelled out by Lee Morton’s strike.
PR Sreejesh’s heroics took the match to the shootout, where he once again starred with two saves to take India into the semi-finals of the hockey Olympic tournament for the second edition running.
"On Sunday, what stood out in our performance was the team's ability to take on the added responsibility of a key position that Amit played," Harmanpreet reflected. :Every player stepped up and even until the last minute, we were fighting back."
India, bronze medallists from Tokyo 2020, will take on Germany in the semi-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics hockey tournament on Tuesday.