‘A slap in the face’ – Gibson

Former Black Sticks goalkeeper Amelia Gibson says the Hockey New Zealand review is ‘‘a slap in the face’’ because it has not been released to review participants.

Gibson, who earned 63 caps between 2010-2017, laid a complaint about alleged mistreatment with Hockey NZ, who issued a statement last August, saying it had ‘‘received one complaint from a third party and the legal advice provided to us at the time was that it did not warrant further action’’.

Hockey NZ – under pressure from the Hockey Players Association – launched a review last September into the Black Sticks. It released a three-anda-half page summary of the review on Monday that did not go into specific details, nor were the full findings shared with interviewees or the Players’ Association.

That has frustrated Gibson, who told 1News yesterday that the current and former players ‘‘need closure’’.

‘‘For me, personally, I do feel like it’s a slap in the face not to see something you’ve been a part of when you are trying to make changes for a healthy environment.’’

Seventy per cent of interviewees – who had played for the Black Sticks between 2016 and 2018 – had serious concerns about the environment, the review said.

Gibson said: ‘‘That statistic speaks volumes for itself. As a player, it’s really hard to put your name to something and be out there when you know that your career’s on the line.’’

Gibson said she just wants ‘‘closure’’. ‘‘I want this to be over. Enough players, current and past, have been dragged through enough.’’