I wouldn’t have given a penalty stroke, admits former umpire

A FORMER international hockey umpire has joined the chorus of voices from across the sport to claim that Ireland have every right to feel aggrieved by the decision that ended their Olympics dream in Vancouver on Sunday.

Mark Tumilty’s side will not be in Tokyo next summer after a contentious penalty stroke handed Canada a last-gasp lifeline.

Ireland were 6-5 ahead on aggregate in the two-legged qualifier and even began to celebrate after time ticked down.

However, their joy was stolen when Canada’s referral was used to engage the video umpire as James Wallace took a tumble in the circle after Lee Cole’s stick caught his right foot.

It’s a decision that has been met with widespread disbelief, but what exactly was going on?

A former international umpire, who wishes to remain anonymous, has spoken to the Belfast Telegraph to outline the key considerations and why he disagreed with the ultimate outcome.

“The decision has certainly led to a number of angry and frustrated reactions on social media and beyond,” he said. “A penalty stroke is awarded for an offence by a defender in the circle which prevents the probable scoring of a goal or for an intentional offence in the circle. In applying the rules, the actions and intention of the defender must be taken into account.

“It is my interpretation that the criteria for a penalty stroke has not been met on the basis of where the tackle occurred and with the defender being reasonably well positioned, whilst making a genuine tackle with his stick on the ground.

“However, the video umpire has interpreted this very differently on this occasion. It’s massively disappointing, and unfortunately the consequences will take a long time to get over.”

IRELAND captain Jonny Bell insists hockey’s world governing body must take action to prevent a repeat of what he believes was a horrendous umpiring blunder that cruelly denied his team the dream of a place in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

On Sunday night in Vancouver, Canada defeated Ireland in an ice hockey-style penalty decider after the game had finished 6-6 on aggregate.

But the Irish are adamant the game should never have got to the stage of a shoot-out.

Describing the controversial episode that gifted Canada the equaliser over the two legs as “outrageous” and a “farce”, Lisnagarvey defender Bell suggested that the video umpire, Argentinian Diego Barbas, should “hang his head in shame” after awarding a last-second penalty stroke.

It was converted to tie the scores on aggregate at 6-6, after the hosts had overturned a 5-3 deficit in the first leg to win the second 3-1.

Some of the Ireland players were already celebrating after the on-pitch umpire Ben Goentgen was heard to say “time” and signalled a dead ball, having seen nothing untoward after a Canadian seemed to have run the ball over the goal line in what should have been the last play of the game.

However, the Canadian players, probably more in hope than expectation, exercised their right to use their video referral, and the third official, incredibly, awarded a penalty stroke, alleging that Lee Cole had been guilty of a deliberate foul.

The 22-year-old Monkstown player had merely attempted to track Canada’s James Wallace, but might have made minimal contact with his opponent with his stick and, if that was the case, the lesser offence should have resulted in a penalty corner at most.

The rules clearly state that for a stroke — which is similar to a penalty in football, only with the striker shooting from just seven yards — to be awarded, there must have been an intentional foul in the circle or that a goal would “probably” have been scored had a non-intentional offence not been committed.

On this occasion, the offence, if there was one, fulfilled neither of the criteria and, at worst from an Irish perspective, a penalty corner should have been the decision.

Bell said: “It was a terrible, terrible decision in the last second of the game. A decision like that at this level is just not acceptable.

“Of course there are things we could have done better in the game, but to be so badly let down by the officials is really hard to take.

“It’s supposed to be a level playing field. It was outrageous and undermines my faith in the sport.

“The FIH must act to ensure this kind of farce never plagues our sport again.

“I am just gutted that an umpiring decision can rob us of our dream and the injustice of the decision is the most gut-wrenching thing.

“But I am incredibly proud of the effort the guys have put in and I am grateful to (head coach) Mark Tumilty and (assistant coach) Jason Lee for re-galvanising the team and making us believe again.”

Tumilty was equally scathing about the controversial call which might well have cost him his future in the post, having stepped in on an interim basis after the shock resignation of Alexander Cox following a disastrous European Championship campaign back in August.

The former Banbridge boss said: “It was a shocking decision that will have a major impact on the sport of hockey in Ireland and cost us a place in the Olympic Games, and it just seems like a bad dream.

“It has been a pleasure to work with this group of players and staff and I am just really disappointed that I could not deliver another Olympic Games for Irish hockey.

“As to what the future holds for me as Ireland coach, that is a conversation that will be held in a few weeks and, for now, I am still just trying to get my