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What's the story?
Indian hockey team's goalkeeper and captain PR Sreejesh has landed himself in trouble for playing a celebrity football match in Mumbai without Hockey India’s permission. As a result, he could find himself facing disciplinary action from the country's governing body in hockey.
In case you didn't know
The 'Celebrity Clasico' featured the country’s top sportsmen and movie stars. Around the same time, the Indian hockey team was participating in the Asia Cup in Dhaka. Sreejesh did not make it to the squad for the tournament because he had been nursing an ACL injury.
The 29-year old had suffered an ACL injury during the Azlan Shah Cup match against Australia in May. In the months that followed, he underwent a surgery in Mumbai. He has been in rehabilitation ever since.
The heart of the matter
Hockey India is yet to take a decision on the issue and will convene in the coming days. It is believed that if Sreejesh is found guilty of breaching Hockey India’s code of conduct, he may even be suspended for at least four months.
After the national team's triumphant return from Dhaka as Asian champions, Hockey India demanded an explanation from Sreejesh. They were surprised to see pictures of him on social media since no player is usually allowed to take part in such events without their prior permission. They were also unhappy because he was supposed to be recovering from a serious injury and playing football could have increased the risk of aggravation.
Apparently, Sreejesh took permission from his personal physio to play only as a goalkeeper. He turned out for All Heart FC led by Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli. The team featured the likes of MS Dhoni, Rohan Bopanna and Jonty Rhodes among others.
What's next?
Hockey India’s Disciplinary Committee confirmed that a decision will only be taken once they meet. Until then, the governing body has opted against giving any indicators of their response to the issue.
Author's take
Sreejesh was expected to be fit for the World League Final. But instead, Hockey India chose to allow him more rest as the team will have a busy schedule in 2018. During next year, India will be participating in three major tournaments such as the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the World Cup. With big events in the offing, it remains to be seen how the governing body handle the matter.
