Hockey India Calls Emergency Meeting Amid Controversy Over Jersey Change

Hockey India is set to hold an emergency Executive Board meeting on September 18 to address internal conflicts and restructure the Hockey India League. The meeting comes in the wake of a controversial jersey color change that has sparked disputes between president Dilip Tirkey and secretary Bhola Nath Singh. Key issues on the agenda include governance restructuring, the future of the league, and the upcoming Hockey India elections. With tensions running high, this meeting aims to clarify roles and responsibilities within the organization and ensure a smoother operation moving forward.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 15, 2026, 15:34 IST

Hockey India Faces Internal Strife

Hockey India, embroiled in controversy, has scheduled an urgent Executive Board meeting for September 18 in New Delhi. The purpose of this meeting is to address ongoing disputes among its senior officials and to revamp the struggling Hockey India League (HIL) by establishing an independent Governing Council.

Tensions have been rising between HI president Dilip Tirkey and secretary Bhola Nath Singh, particularly following the contentious decision to change the Indian teams' jersey color from blue to saffron prior to the recent FIH World Cup.

Tirkey has claimed that this change occurred without his approval or that of the HI Executive Board.

In response, he issued a show-cause notice to HI Director General, Cdr R K Srivastava, stripping him of his powers immediately and citing eight charges, with the jersey alteration being the most significant.

This situation has led secretary Bhola Nath to convene an emergency Executive Board meeting. Tirkey's notice allowed Srivastava four weeks to respond.

In an email to Executive Board members, Bhola Nath stated, "On the advice of the Hockey India President, Dr. Dilip Tirkey, the Emergent - 119th Executive Board Meeting will take place at 15:00 hrs on 18.09.2026 at the Hockey India Office, New Delhi."

However, Tirkey countered in his response that only the president has the authority to call such meetings, not the secretary.

He emphasized, "The by-law, as approved by HI on June 20, 2026, clearly states that only the President can call an emergency meeting."

Tirkey further instructed Bhola Nath to refrain from undermining the president's authority and to avoid spreading confusion among members.

The agenda for the meeting will also include discussions on the future of the HIL for both men's and women's leagues.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently met with Tirkey and HIL franchise owners, urging them to create a roadmap for the league, which includes forming a five-member panel to propose a governance and financial model.

Franchise owners have expressed their desire for a new governance structure that allows them a voice in league operations, dissatisfied with the current management by the federation.

Bhola Nath's email outlined plans for restructuring the HIL, suggesting it be operated as a joint venture with team franchises, proposing the formation of HIL Pvt Ltd as a separate entity with a 40:60 equity split between HIL and franchises.

Additionally, a new Governing Council for HIL is to be established, comprising a chairman, two members from Hockey India, and two representatives from each franchise, tasked with overseeing HIL's administration.

The meeting will also aim to set a date for Hockey India elections, in accordance with the organization's bye-laws, and appoint an Electoral Officer to oversee the election process.

Other topics on the agenda include the financial statements for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and discussions about hosting the men's and women's Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab (Jalandhar and Mohali) and Bhopal.

The legal notice served to Srivastava by Tirkey will also be discussed, addressing issues such as the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information to the public.