Player banned for 10 years for striking rival on head
Hong Kong's hockey elite was in uproar yesterday with half of the Premier Division pulling out of the prestigious Holland Cup in protest at Singh Sabha Sports Club (SSSC), whose players have once again been involved in on-field violence.
SSSC found itself at the centre of another storm after they had a player banned for 10 years on Tuesday. Satpal Singh was handed the unprecedented punishment by the Hong Kong Hockey Association (HKHA) for striking Hong Kong Football Club's Douglas Corbel on the back of the head with his stick during a league game in March.
But a number of leading clubs - Premier League champions Hong Kong Football Club, Shaheen, Valley and Kowloon Cricket Club - say the association has not gone far enough, and should have also booted SSSC, who are the defending champions, out of the Holland Cup.
'Their (SSSC) disciplinary record speaks for itself. We don't want to play them as it would unnecessarily endanger the safety of our players,' said Angus Emmerson, chairman of the HKFC's hockey section.
The blow resulted in Corbel being rushed to hospital where he received stitches. Another Football Club player, Will Glover, suffered a knee injury during the match.