New Delhi: Deeply hurt by the allegation made against him during the recent hockey crisis, A K Mattoo has resigned as the Hockey India President and also from all the other administrative posts in various sport bodies.
Mattoo has sent in his resignation to the Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi and has made up his mind to "take retirement from sports administration".
"I have submitted my resignation to Kalmadi and I now want to take retirement from sports administration. I have served for 40 years and it has been long and fruitful innings," said Matoo.
Apart from being Hockey India President, Mattoo is also the treasurer of the IOA and the Organising Commitee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Asked whether he would reconsider his decision if Kalmadi ask him to do so, he said, "No, I have made up my mind and don't want to get into all these again. I have enjoyed my stint as a sports administrator all these years."
Mattoo, who is known for his integrity and uprightness, admitted that the allegation leveled against him by the striking hockey players and some other officials and the manner in which the crisis was projected left him deeply hurt.
Asked whether that was the reason why he decided to quit, Mattoo said, "Well, that is one of the reasons. Certainly it did play a role in my decision."
"After the tournament, the Ministry of Sports will be in dialogue with the new elected management of Hockey India to find satisfactory solutions to all issues, raised by the players," Gill promised.
Mattoo said a new set of players will represent India in the forthcoming World Cup if the revolting players did not report to the camp within the stipulated deadline.
"We are not saying that we are sacking or suspending them but they will not be able to take part in the World Cup," the HI chief said.
"I am not suspending the camp, I am closing the camp for the time being and restart it after some days.
"India will participate in the World Cup irrespective of the fact that whether they play or not. We will look for fresh players from across the country," Mattoo added.
Mattoo said the players refused to budge from their stand despite the assurance that their grievances would be looked into after the HI elections scheduled for February 7.
"I told the players that I have 'X' amount of money in my hand. If I give it to you, I have to give it to the women's as well as junior team. I told them all their demands would be taken to the new body and see what we can do best for them,"he said.
International Hockey Federation (FIH) vice president Antonio von Ondarza expressed shock over the development and said with just six weeks left for the World Cup, the players should concentrate on training instead of indulging in pressure tactics.
"I heard allegation from both sides. It's really a very sad story. If you come to a negotiations and refuse to move, it's not going to succeed," Ondarza said.
"Hockey India has just come into being and it's an interim body. How can it commit for future? That would be a fraud thing to do. With just 10 weeks to go before the World Cup, players should not put pressure on HI. They should
concentrate on their training," he added.
Ondarza, who is also the FIH-appointed observer for HI polls, said it was sad to learn that the present set of Indian players prefer money over the nation.
"They went out of the meeting and when they returned, I asked what is more important for them, the national shirt or the money. They said money was more important to them. It's very sad," he said.
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