New Delhi:
After much criticism from all quarters, the International Hockey Federation is set to review the newly-introduced video referral system in its executive committee meeting here on March 15.
In a media summit organised here on the sidelines of the hockey World Cup, FIH Umpires' Manager Clive McMurray said the referral system would be analysed and the grey areas sorted out after the ongoing mega event.
"The referral system has come up with some issues but it is very much in trial stage. The system has some grey areas and we (FIH) completely understand that," McMurray said at a city hotel.
"Any rule can be problematic while interpreting. That is happening here. The referral system is not to make the game error free but to eliminate gross errors and decision which can change the result of a match," he said.
Besides the review of the referral system, the executive committee will discuss an annual world club championships to be hosted by India for five years with the inaugural edition likely to be held in December, drafting of a new FIH calendar which would provide fixed slots for top FIH events.
McMurray, however, came in support of his colleagues and said the field officials are doing their job with sincerity.
"The umpires are here to serve the game and not to be bullies. They are here to promote the game of hockey. They are here to make it more attractive and entertaining spectacle. They are here to ensure that the teams play their part in all decisions," McMurray said.
The referral system, introduced for the first time in a World Cup here after making its debut in the Champions Trophy in Australia last year, has been under the scanner right from the start of the tournament.
Not only India coach Jose Brasa and his Australian counterpart Ric Charlesworth were the strong protesters of the system, it also irked South African captain Austin Smith who termed it "bizarre and imperfect".