Hockey India Calls Key Meeting Amid Leadership Rift
Hockey India has called an emergent Executive Board meeting on September 18 in New Delhi to resolve differences among its top officials and discuss a restructuring of the Hockey India League, including the creation of an independent Governing Council.
The meeting comes amid a growing rift between Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey and secretary Bhola Nath Singh, with the dispute escalating following the controversy over the change in the Indian teams’ jersey colour from blue to saffron ahead of the recently concluded FIH World Cup.
Tirkey had said the change was made without his knowledge or the consent of the Hockey India Executive Board.
He subsequently issued a show-cause notice to Hockey India Director General Cdr R K Srivastava and stripped him of all his powers with immediate effect. The notice listed eight charges, with the jersey issue among the prominent ones.
Tirkey, Bhola Nath Differ Over Meeting
The emergent meeting was conveyed by Bhola Nath on Tirkey’s advice, according to an email sent to Executive Board members.
“On the advice/direction of the Hockey India President, Dr Dilip Tirkey, received via email dated 14.09.2026, the Emergent – 119th Executive Board Meeting of Hockey India will be held at 15:00 hrs on 18.09.2026 at the Hockey India Office, New Delhi,” Bhola Nath wrote.
However, Tirkey subsequently questioned the secretary’s authority to call an emergency meeting.
“With reference to your email, please be informed that the by-law, as approved by HI on 20th June 2026, clearly states in the clause (16.4.2) that only the President can call an emergency meeting, not the Secretary General,” Tirkey wrote.
He also maintained that no Executive Board meeting should be held until Srivastava submits his explanation to the show-cause notice.
“Once again, I request you to refrain from disobeying the Chair of President Hockey India and instead spreading your own decisions and judgments to the other members and creating confusion,” Tirkey said in the email.
Bhola Nath Says President Had Agreed
Bhola Nath, however, told PTI that he had spoken to Tirkey last Friday about resolving Hockey India’s outstanding issues and that the president had agreed to an emergent meeting.
“I called Dilip ji on last Friday and discussed about all the issues and about calling an emergent EB meeting to sort out the issues before the Asian Games which he agreed. He told me to give him the agenda, which I mailed. But I don’t know why he is backtracking right now,” Bhola Nath said.
“We have to sort all the issues and the main things are elections and the structure of Hockey India League,” he added.
The meeting is therefore expected to become an important test of the relationship between the federation’s top officials, with several administrative issues needing resolution ahead of upcoming international commitments.
Hockey India League Restructure On Agenda
The future structure of the Hockey India League is one of the key items on the meeting’s agenda.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met Tirkey and HIL franchise owners on Monday and asked them to prepare a roadmap for the league. A five-member panel has been tasked with proposing a governance and financial model.
Franchise owners have also sought greater involvement in the running of the league after expressing dissatisfaction with its existing management structure.
The agenda circulated by Bhola Nath proposes creating HIL Pvt Ltd as a separate entity and running the competition as a joint venture between Hockey India and the franchises.
“Discussion regarding restructuring of HIL with regard to HIL to be run as a joint venture along with Team Franchises. Formation of HIL Pvt Ltd as a separate entity/company, with equity of 40:60 per cent equity of HIL and Franchise,” the agenda stated.
It also proposes a new Governing Council to oversee the administration of the league.
“Formation of New Governing Council of HIL with Chairman and two Members from Hockey India and two representatives from each franchise. This GC will govern the administration of HIL,” it added.
The proposed structure would give franchise representatives a formal role in the governance of both the men’s and women’s Hockey India League.
Hockey India Elections Also To Be Discussed
The Executive Board will also discuss possible dates for the Hockey India elections and the appointment of an Electoral Officer.
The agenda includes finalising the election date in accordance with the Hockey India bye-laws and approving an Electoral Officer to conduct and supervise the process.
The federation’s financial accounts for 2025-26, including the balance sheet and income and expenditure statement, will also be considered.
Other agenda items include preparations for this year’s men’s and women’s Asian Champions Trophy events, which are scheduled to be hosted in Punjab, including Jalandhar and Mohali, and Bhopal.
Show-Cause Notice Against DG Under Scanner
Tirkey’s legal notice against Srivastava will also be placed before the Executive Board for discussion and a decision.
The agenda calls for the members to consider the legal notice dated September 12 and its contents.
One of the charges mentioned relates to the alleged leakage of privileged and confidential Hockey India information and records to the public through the media, social media or other means.
With leadership differences, the Hockey India League’s future and the federation’s elections all on the agenda, the September 18 meeting could prove crucial for the functioning and direction of Hockey India in the coming months.
