Under-fire International Hockey Federation (FIH) today imposed one-match suspension on two players of the Pakistan hockey team for breach of code of conduct (Level-1) in the Champions Trophy semi-final match against India earlier yesterday.

According to FIH Tournament Director Wiert Doyer, Muhammad Tousiq and Amjad Ali have been barred from playing Pakistan’s  final match against Germany. Both the players were seen making obscene gestures to the crowd on the stands, while celebrating their 4-3 win over India.

Tousiq was found raising the middle finger, while Ali was seen moving his pelvis up and down and backwards and forwards. The FIH also officially reprimanded another Pak player (Shafqat Rasool) for breach of code of conduct (Level-1). He was also seen raising his middle finger. Action was taken on the basis of video evidence of the incident was shown on the social media.

Earlier in the day, a written apology given by Sheikh Shahnaz, the head coach of the Pak team, was issued by the sport’s world governing body. ``The behavior of some of our players was not acceptable. They submit their regrets to our kind hosts Hockey India. My team is looking forward to the final against Germany and as part of our preparations the entire team has decided to bring flowers to the ground for the spectators as an apology for our behavious,’’ Shahnaz said in a statement.

But the flowers did not arrive. When asked about the reason Sahnaz said that he had given Rs 1,000 to a person to bring the flower, the person could not deliver it in tme. However, FIH drew a lot of flack for the entire episode due to the dubious decisions of Tournament Director Wiert. The Netherland official drew a lot of flak yesterday as he almost let the erring Pak players escape scot free.

``It is difficult to find any particular miscreant and it is possible that the behavious of the players may have been a reaction. Shahnaz Sheikh has apologized and assured me that this behaviour will not occur again. Given these matters, I have decided that no further action is warranted,’’ he has said in a statement.

But after video footage of the incident appeared in social media, the FIH reopened the case and took disciplinary action against three players of the Pak team.