FIH Pro League 2020: Now New Zealand also says no to games in Europe
FIH Pro League 2020: Now New Zealand also says no to games in Europe:Problems facing the FIH Pro League 2020 refuse to die down. After teams said no to China, now it is Europe which is getting negative response from teams participating in the second edition of this elite FIH event. After Australia requested the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to put all its games in Europe in the month of March on hold, now New Zealand has made a similar decision. It wants its games against the Netherlands and Germany later this month to be put on hold. As of now, both Australia and New Zealand hockey teams, both men and women, will not travel to Europe later this month as all their FIH Pro League 2020 games have been put on hold. Till date 22 matches of the FIH Pro League 2020 have been put on hold. Their new dates will be decided later. These 24 games feature not only China (women), but also Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands and Germany (men and women) teams, besides Spain (men's team). Following statement was issued by the FIH today : Due to the coronavirus outbreak in Europe, Hockey New Zealand has decided to postpone a trip by its men and women teams to play FIH Hockey Pro League matches in the Netherlands and Germany initially scheduled for March. FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “Our reaction is no different to what we have expressed when Hockey Australia took a similar decision, and we do understand Hockey New Zealand’s stance. Together with all participating National Associations, we will look at every available option to play this year’s FIH Hockey Pro League matches, while monitoring the global evolution of the situation closely, following the recommendations of the World Health Organization and placing the health of all stakeholders involved as priority. Therefore, in line with our previous decisions for matches involving China and Australia, we’ve decided to put the planned matches of New Zealand in the Netherlands and Germany on hold.”
