WHAT LOAD OF RUBBISH FIH

It's high time countries from Asia tell FIH to go fly kites.

The money for hockey is in Asia with Pakistan and India the cash cows in terms of TV rights.

Yet the FIH pay scant respect to Asia as evident in the quota system released for the 2012 London Olympics.

Out of 12 places available, one goes to the host country, five to the continental champions and three to ranking of FIH.

So if Great Britain wins the Euro Championships, mind you they play as England there, then there will be another three places for Europe.

And here is where it gets more ridiculous , the champion of Oceania and the runnerup are given places in London. Just how many teams from Oceania are in the top 20 world rankings.

For the Asians, who have South Korea, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, China and Japan in the top 20 of the world rankings, we are given only one spot automatically and the next five have to play with another 13 countries to vie for three spots remaining.

Utter rubbish FIH and this is discrimination against Asia, period.

So AHF should just tell FIH where to go as far as the Olympics is concerned, and forget about the Premier Series.

For once stand up and be counted Asia as for far too long have you been taken to the cleaners by these so called wise men of FIH.

They want our money but not our teams.

Read the FIH Quota System below:

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) released the qualification quotas for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The five continental championships, to be played from November 2010 until the end of 2011, will determine direct qualification for nine men's and nine women's teams.

In addition, to determine the final three men's and three women's Olympic participants, the FIH will hold four Olympic Qualification tournaments in the first part of 2012 at which the winner of each tournament will qualify. The men’s and women’s Olympic Hockey competitions will take place from 29 July to 11 August 2012.

Qualification system for the 2012 Olympic Games Men’s Hockey Tournament

Automatic qualifiers

Host nation – Great Britain
Africa - Champion at Africa Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament
America - Champion at 16th Pan American Games (men’s hockey competition)
Asia - Champion at 16th Asian Games (men’s hockey competition)
Europe - Champion at 13th EuroHockey Nations Championship for Men
Oceania - Champion at 7th Men’s Oceania Cup
Extra quota places

In addition, based upon the ABN AMRO FIH Team Rankings, three extra quotas are allocated to different continents for direct qualification. For the 2012 Olympic Games men’s hockey competition, the three extra quotas are allocated as follows:

Europe: 2 extra quotas. Therefore, the next two highest placed teams (other than the Champion and the nominated National Association for Great Britain) of the 13th European Nations Championship qualify directly for the 2012 Olympics Games.
Oceania: 1 extra quota. Therefore, the next highest placed team at the 7th Men’s Oceania Cup qualifies directly for the 2012 Olympics Games, together with the Oceania Champion.
However, if the nominated National Association for Great Britain wins the final of the 13th EuroHockey Nations Championship for Men, a fourth extra quota becomes available, and, based upon the ABN AMRO FIH Team Rankings, this will be allocated to Europe. In this event, together with the nominated National Association for Great Britain, the silver and bronze medalist as well as the 4th placed team of the 13th EuroHockey Nations Championship for Men will qualify directly for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Qualifying tournaments

The last three spots for the 2012 Olympic Games men’s hockey competition will be determined in three Olympic Qualification tournaments in 2012. Of these qualifying tournaments, one will be held in India in February 2012 (exact dates TBC), the second in Japan from 25 April - 6 May, while dates and location for the third tournament still need to be confirmed.

The eighteen (18) qualification places for the respective tournaments are allocated to the continents are based upon the ABN AMRO FIH Team Rankings at the completion of the Hero Honda FIH World Cup Men 2010, and are as follows:

Africa - 1 quota place
Asia - 5 quota places
Europe - 8 quota places
Oceania - 0 quota places
Pan America - 4 quota places

Qualification system for the 2012 Olympic Games Women’s Hockey Tournament

Automatic qualifiers

Host nation – Great Britain
Africa - Champion at Africa Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament
America - Champion at 16th Pan American Games (women’s hockey competition)
Asia - Champion at 16th Asian Games (women’s hockey competition)
Europe - Champion at 10th EuroHockey Nations Championship for Women
Oceania - Champion at 7th Women’s Oceania Cup
Extra quota places

In addition, based upon the ABN AMRO FIH Team Rankings, three extra quotas are allocated to different continents for direct qualification. For the 2012 Olympic Games women’s hockey competition, the three extra quotas are allocated as follows:

Europe: 1 extra quota. Therefore, the next highest placed team (other than the Champion and nominated National Association for Great Britain) at the 10th Women’s European Nations Championship qualifies directly for the 2012 Olympics Games, together with the European Champion and the nominated National Association for Great Britain for Great Britain.
Oceania: 1 extra quota. Therefore, the runner-up at the 7th Women’s Oceania Cup qualifies directly for the 2012 Olympic Games, together with the Oceania Champion.
Asia: 1 extra quota. Therefore, the runner-up at the 16th Asian Games qualifies directly for the 2012 Olympic Games, together with the Asian Champion.
However, if the nominated National Association for Great Britain wins the final of the 10th EuroHockey Nations Championship for Women, a fourth extra quota becomes available and, based upon the ABN AMRO FIH Team Rankings, this will be allocated to Europe. In this event, the bronze medalist of the 10th EuroHockey Nations Championship for Women will qualify directly for the 2012 Olympic Games, together with the European Champion and runner-up.

Qualifying tournaments

The last three spots for the 2012 Olympic Games women’s hockey competition will be determined during three Olympic Qualification tournaments. Of these qualifying tournaments, one will be held in India in February 2012 (exact dates TBC), the second in Japan from 25 April - 6 May, and the third in Azerbaijan, with dates to be confirmed.

The eighteen (18) qualification places for the respective tournaments are allocated to the continents based upon the ABN AMRO FIH Team Rankings at the completion of the BDO FIH World Cup Women 2010, and are as follows:

Africa - 0 quota places
Asia - 4 quota places
Europe - 8 quota places
Oceania - 0 quota places
Pan America - 6 quota places