LONDON: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has formally apologised to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) after Pakistan’s national flag was incorrectly displayed ahead of an FIH Pro League match against India in London.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre as the traditional rivals lined up for their national anthems before the match.
According to standard protocol, the national flags of both teams were displayed in front of the players. However, organizers presented Pakistan’s flag without its distinctive white vertical stripe, which represents the country’s religious minorities.
The error triggered widespread criticism on social media and overshadowed the closely contested match, which India won 4-3.
Minutes after the game, FIH Pro League Director Hilary Atkinson sent a letter to PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, offering a formal apology.
In the letter, the FIH accepted full responsibility for the mistake and pledged to take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“I am sincerely sorry for the incorrect display of your team’s flag during today’s FIH Hockey Pro League match in London,” Atkinson wrote.
The federation offered an unconditional apology, acknowledging that a national flag is a powerful symbol of a team’s identity, pride and representation.
“We regret any distress this incident may have caused to your team, supporters, the public and the national federation,” the letter said.
The FIH described the incident as an administrative error and said it would review its procedures to ensure such mistakes do not occur again.
Atkinson also thanked Pakistan for participating in the Pro League and reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to treating all participating teams with professionalism and respect. She added that the FIH remained available for any further discussions on the matter.
The controversy came as Pakistan suffered a 4-3 defeat to India, its 13th consecutive loss in the competition. The result also confirmed Pakistan’s relegation from the next edition of the FIH Pro League.
