Fans burn Gill effigy, demand IHF overhauling

Seeking the ouster of an 'autocratic' K P S Gill, angry fans on Monday burnt the effigy of the Indian Hockey Federation President and demanded an overhauling of the IHF to save the sport.

Peeved with India's recent failure to make it to the Beijing Olympics, the Hockey Fans Club of India held a demonstration in New Delhi and condemned the "lackadaisical attitude" of the federation towards the game.

Shouting slogans against Gill, the fans beat up the effigy of the IHF chief before setting it on fire.

"The situation is so grim that we have lost our standing in the game. The Federation has not taken any step to check its deterioration," said Avtar Singh Verka, Secretary of the club.

"We share the national grief over India's failure to reach the Olympics. We demand the removal of Gill. Besides, present coach Joaquim Carvalho's resignation be accepted and Australia's Ric Charlesworth be handed over the full charge of the team," he said.

Verka said a new set of officials should be appointed to run the IHF keeping in view the 2010 World Cup to be held in India.

"A new team of the Federation should be elected ahead of the World Cup and matches of this event be held in Delhi," he said.

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