Hockey India President Questions Jersey Colour Change Decision

The controversy surrounding the Indian hockey teams’ change in jersey colour ahead of the World Cup took a fresh turn on Friday after Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey -- a veteran of 412 internationals for India -- wrote to the federation’s executive board claiming that the decision was taken without his knowledge. In an email sent to executive board members on Friday morning, accessed by TOI, Tirkey said he had sought a written clarification from Hockey India officials regarding the basis of the decision, the process followed and the circumstances under which the change was approved and implemented. “I wish to bring to your attention the recent change in the colour of the Indian national team’s jersey. This decision appears to have been taken and implemented without being placed before the executive board for discussion and without my prior knowledge,” Tirkey wrote. In a separate email to executive director Commander RK Srivastava, Tirkey directed that a detailed note be circulated to all executive board members by 5 pm on July 31, explaining who authorised the jersey colour change, who was involved in the decision and why neither the president nor the executive board was consulted before it was announced. The Indian team’s traditional blue jersey was recently replaced by a predominantly saffron kit for the upcoming World Cup, triggering widespread debate on social media and political reactions. While critics questioned the timing and symbolism of the change, Hockey India maintained that the move was a sporting and design-related decision. In his letter, Tirkey clarified that his objection was not to the choice of colour itself but to the manner in which the decision was taken. “A decision of this significance, involving the identity and representation of our national team, should ideally have been discussed with the elected leadership and the executive board before implementation,” he wrote. The Hockey India president also referred to the political controversy surrounding the issue, saying he had publicly clarified that the jersey change was “purely a sporting decision” so that the focus remained on the team’s World Cup preparations. He further revealed that the Odisha govt had sought an explanation from him on the matter. Calling for greater transparency within the federation, Tirkey said the episode highlighted the need for significant decisions concerning the national team to be brought before the elected leadership and executive board for consultation and collective consideration. The latest controversy comes at a time when Hockey India is already under scrutiny over its governance. In recent months, the federation has been rocked by multiple allegations of harassment involving senior officials. The secretary general, Bhola Nath Singh, has faced allegations of threatening former India captain and Hockey India vice-president Asunta Lakra after she raised concerns over the handling of a sexual harassment complaint against a coach.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports subsequently asked Hockey India to place Lakra’s complaint before its Internal Complaints Committee and conduct an independent inquiry. Separately, the federation has also faced criticism over its handling of other harassment-related complaints, adding to questions over transparency and administrative functioning. The latest development is likely to intensify scrutiny over Hockey India’s decision-making process, with questions now extending beyond the jersey colour itself to whether due administrative procedures were followed before the change was implemented.