The Irish women's hockey team's chances of participating in next year's World Cup finals in Australia has been thrown into doubt as a result of a ruling by the sport's governing body tonight. The Disciplinary Committee of the International Hockey Federation has dismissed the protest lodged by Ireland on September 29 regarding the result of a penalty stroke competition against Lithuania during the World Cup qualifier in France. This means that the original result stands, making Lithuania winners of the tie.
However, their subsequent behaviour was judged to be such that they ought not to automatically qualify for the World Cup so the committee has ruled that both Lithuania and Ireland should join other nations in a further qualification event to take place in South Africa in February of next year while Scotland will qualify automatically for the World Cup in their place.
The document outlining the decision of the IHF's Disciplinary Committee will be carefully considered by the council of the Irish Hockey Union at their scheduled meeting next Saturday morning.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
