At the Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia the new FIH Statutes were approved. The new Statutes will come into effect on January 1, 2013 and feature some key changes for the FIH and its operations.
The biggest addition to the new Statutes is the newly created role of a Disciplinary Commissioner. This position will deal with the majority of disputes and disciplinary matters in the first instance, thus avoiding the expensive procedure of assembling a Judicial Commission Panel (JC) for every matter. Gordon Nurse has been appointed as the FIH Disciplinary Commissioner and will begin his duties on January 1. Click here for additional details on this new position.
Another addition to the Statutes is a section that sets out the rights and duties of the Continental Federations and states that if a Continental Federation fails adequately to perform its responsibilities the FIH Executive Board and/or Congress can withdraw a Continental Federation’s authority for those responsibilities. It is confirmed that Continental Federations are not liable for the debts or obligations of the FIH and vice versa.
As for the members, the new Statutes emphasize the “one country, one member” principle (which is also required by the Olympic Charter) and the ongoing criteria which each member NA must meet. It also sets out the rights and obligations of members, the criteria for membership (the NA must claim the exclusive right to govern both men’s and women’s hockey) and the right of FIH to suspend or expel a member (against which order the member has a right of appeal to CAS). It is also confirmed that National Associations are not liable for the debts or obligations of the FIH and vice versa.
Click here for an overview of the changes to the FIH Statutes that was circulated at Congress.
A complete copy of the new Statutes can be viewed here.
