After the FIH letter to all National Associations, which was discussed in this Blog yesterday, there appears to be more trouble brewing for the Nimbus-IHF promoted WSH.
Times of India has reported that Premier Hockey Development Private Limited (PHD), a firm formed by ESPN STAR Sports and IHF in 2004 to run the Premier Hockey League (PHL) has filed a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court, seeking to restrain IHF from organizing the WSH with Nimbus, on the grounds that “The IHF had granted to PHD exclusive and unfettered right to use IHF’s name and logo in the promotion and broadcast of the PHL throughout the world“. Further the PHD has drawn reference to a stipulation in its agreement with IHF dated December 31, 2004, pursuant to which the IHF had apparently committed to PHD that “no other national, regional or multi-team hockey league or events which could compete with or prejudice the status of PHL will be directly or indirectly run or sanctioned by IHF or its member associations in their respective territories“
PHD has sought an order from the Delhi High Court, restraining the IHF from organizing the WSH with Nimbus Sport, as well as seeking a redressal of the breach of contract on the grounds that it has secured the exclusive rights to implement the concept of a multi-team hockey league.
While this certainly is more bad news for the WSH, it will be interesting to see what issues have been raised before the Delhi High Court, and how it addresses those issues. The PHL was organized every year between 2005 and 2008, but since then it has gone into cold storage, for reasons which have not been well documented in the media.On first glance, there does appear to be a breach by the IHF, of the terms of the Agreement dated December 31, 2004. However, can PHD obtain the reliefs that it has sought for, considering that the PHL itself has not been organized for the last 3 years? Is PHD willing to perform its obligations under the agreement dated December 31, 2004? Considering the fact that the FIH does not recognize the IHF, will it view the PHL any differently from the WSH? Where does this leave the players who had signed up to play in the PHL, and who have now signed up to play the WSH?
We have certainly not heard the last word as yet on what is brewing into a complex dispute involving the IHF, PHD, Nimbus, FIH and Hockey India. It is a pity that various Indian and foreign players will be at the crosshairs of this dispute and it is they and the sport of hockey who will be poorer due to this dispute.
About the Author:
Amrut Joshi is the Founder of Gamechanger Sports Ventures (www.gamechangerindia.com). He can be contacted at amrut@gamechangerindia.com.
Posted by Amrut Joshi 
