Pakistan and India have to sort out hockey relations on their own: FIH CEO

New Delhi: The raging war of words between the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and Hockey India (HI) over the Champions Trophy incident last year will have to be sorted by the two boards themselves as the FIH doesn't intend to "sit between them", International Hockey Federation (FIH) CEO, Kelly Fairweather, said here on Thursday.

Fairweather is in the Indian capital for Hockey India League (HIL) players auction that was held at The Lalit Hotel.

Speaking to reporters over HI not being happy with the PHF showing no regret for the misbehaviour of their players at the Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar last December, Fairweather said that matter is closed as far as the apex hockey body is concerned.

"We don't intend to sit between them. What we will be doing is meeting with the Pakistan Hockey Federation, it's new leadership and hopefully they will have a new approach," he said.

Former Pakistan captain Shahbaz Ahmed is the new Secretary General of PHF, with Rasheed Junior being appointed as the new Chief Selector.

Pakistan, continuing to have estranged political relations with India, missed the last World Cup and will also not be part of the Rio Olympics which is what concerns FIH as they intend to meet the new leadership in Pakistan and draw a road map for their recovery.

"Pakistan playing its part in international hockey is absolutely essential," the FIH CEO said. "These are two powerhouses of our hockey, and they not playing the World Cup and Olympics is not good."

HI President Narinder Batra has, however, ruled out any bilateral relations with PHF until they express regret over the incident, which is why the Pakistan players remain missing from the HIL.

"We need an assurance, regret from PHF that such incident will not be repeated again. Until that happens, we don't intend to have any bilateral relations," Batra said at the sidelines of the HIL auction.

But FIH, who had taken action against three Pakistan players after the incident, said the matter is between the two boards now.

"That incident, as far as FIH is concerned, is in the past. We took what we believe was the appropriate action. You heard Dr. Batra's view on this. We are not going to comment any further because, as I said, it is a discussion between the two federations.

"Our part as international federation is to make sure that Pakistan gets back into international hockey as a force," Fairweather concluded.