Official Communication

MATCH: W30            CHN v AUS
DATE:  2008-08-18 at 21:00 on Pitch 1

The Code of Conduct Hearing was held at 16:30 on 2008-08-19 at the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium with respect to breaches of the FIH Code of Conduct by the China team during the last 4 minutes of the match against Australia on 2008-08-18.

DECISION:

After reviewing the evidence and hearing submissions from the China Team Manager and Team Captain, The TD makes the following findings:

            - That the behaviour of the China players, particularly in the last 4 minutes of the match, constituted several breaches of the FIH Code of Conduct , more specifically,

1. Participants shall at all times conduct themselves fairly and properly on the field of play … No player may conduct himself in a manner or commit any act or omission which may prejudice the interest of hockey or which may bring the game of hockey into disrepute.  

2. (b) Disputing, protesting and/or reacting in a provocative or disapproving manner in an inappropriate way toward any decision made by an umpire or official; and

    (c) Charging or advancing towards an umpire or technical official in an aggressive manner when appealing

            - That there was physical contact between China player #10, GAO Lihua and the umpire after the penalty corner was called with just over 4 minutes remaining in the match

            - That the behaviour of the China Goalkeeper (Player #16, ZHANG Yimeng) was intimidating and/or unacceptable on at least two incidents where she challenged the decisions of the umpire, even though no card was issued to her personally

            - that the Team Captain was responsible for controlling the behaviour of the team players and failed to ensure that the appropriate protocols were followed

           - That although the appropriate penalty for the Code of Conduct breaches involving physical contact normally constitutes a Level 2 offence for which a minimum two (2) or more matches is the penalty; consideration was given to the acknowledgements of the offences by the China Team Captain and Team Manager and the TD deems that a one match suspension of the Team Captain, MA Yibo (player #1) would be more appropriate.

           - That the China Team Captain, MA Yibo (player #1) is suspended for the next Match between GER v CHN scheduled for 18:00 on Wednesday, 20 August 2008

           - That any further incident involving similar behaviour could result in a minimum two (2) or more match suspension for the Team Captain and/or any other player involved in the misbehaviour.       

Janet Ellis, Technical Delegate
2008-08-19 at 20:10