They say you always get what you deserve… Having witnessed the FIH congress last week I state: “we deserve better”!
So last Saturday Narinder Batra got re-elected as president of the FIH with 63 votes vs 61 for his opponent Marc Coudron. A close race. Where some have openly questioned the addition of 3 countries allowed to vote, after being voted in as new FIH members just minutes before. Or the sudden login from another country only seconds before the vote, when the congress itself started the day before and the session of that day had been going for hours with many votes before this presidential election. But I will not go into that. It serves no purpose. I am sure the administrators will have made sure all was done according to the letter of the law. So I see no point in contesting this…
I do have an issue with the fact these votes are “secret”. Following the FIH congress I asked the CEO and re-elected president of the FIH if we could know who voted for who. Thierry Weil, CEO of FIH, answered the vote was secret and this has always been the case. When I asked who asked for these votes to be kept secret, he told us this was not only already the norm. But it was even requested explicitly again by multiple NA’s at this congress and he told us for example the German representatives were among those who insisted on the secrecy of the votes at multiple times.
Batra did recognise the fact 49% of the votes were against him. Meaning these countries wanted a change. The main problem I have with him, apart from the fact his priorities are not with our sport but with the other organisations he runs, is the fact he wants to focus on growing the followers of our sport rather than the players. Other than that there are so many issues I have with his policies and governance of our sport, that I will have to get back to these another time.
I recognise the world is a very diverse place with different cultures, customs and values. Even if we try to keep an open mind there will always be surprising differences in the way we see things. But… even when you understand and accept there will always be differences, there are some common values we share all over, or should share. Some non-negotiable values. Values such as equal opportunities for all, accountability for those who represent others, transparency in governing our sport on our behalf and financially you never ever “gamble” with other people’s money. Meaning you do not spend money you have not earned before. So please consider the following an open letter to all those administrators in hockey, from all countries on all continents…
Dear hockey administrator,
Please consider making the following changes (unless you’re already there) in your own national association, in your own continental federation and within the FIH as well…
- Before everything else, make it your number one priority to promote playing hockey recreationally. The purpose of sport is to be played, not watched! You’re NOT in the entertainment industry. You’re a part of sport. Which is all about health, education and leisure. The professional and entertainment part of it should be there to serve the sport. Not the other way around…
- Please change the statutes of the FIH (and/or your continental or national association) to allow for accountability and transparency as soon as possible. The right to have a secret vote is a sacred one if we’re talking about individuals, voting for the people they would like to see represent them. However… when the voters are people who represent others it becomes a different matter. As is the case with our national associations (NA’s) voting within their continental or the international federation or even club representatives voting within their own NA. In that case accountability and transparency take precedence over the secret vote.
We will get back to you with our other concerns (and there are many) when we have taken the time to study your reports, finances and plans. Because we the players, the teams, the clubs, organisations and officials you represent will be asking for accountability and transparency whatever the current rules might be… If your role is a voluntary or honorary role or if you’re on the payroll. It does not make a difference. We are grateful for the effort you put into governing our sport. We truly are. But you need to recognise representing others can not be without accountability and transparency.
Thank you!
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