Pakistan apologize to India with red roses
Pakistan coach, Shahnaz Sheikh and captain, Muhammad Imran arrived for the on-pitch media briefing holding a red rose in their hands to apologize for their reaction in the aftermath of the win over India, after losing the final to Germany 2-0.
The final felt like a home match for Germany as the crowd willed the Germans to take revenge on Pakistan for the home side’s defeat and the subsequent reaction by the Pakistanis.
India’s arch-rivals offered peace for their shameless behaviour after ending their Champions trophy campaign with a 2nd placed finish. For their reaction, two Pakistan players, Muhammad Tousiq and Amjad Ali, were suspended while Shafqat Rasool was reprimanded by the FIH.
Soon after Pakistan beat India 4-3, the players took their shirts off while showing the middle finger to the crowd and the media present at the ground. The behaviour was strongly objected by the Indian media, fans and Hockey India - after which the FIH decided to punish the offenders.
The Pakistan coach said, "We have already said sorry for what happened after the match against India and now we are here to present you this red rose.
"Let's talk about the match. I and the Pakistan Hockey Federation have already given a written apology and the players have been suspended by the FIH.
"Today Asian hockey has once again lost to the Europeans. That should the topic of discussion. Let's move on. We should mend fences as we have promised that such behaviour will not be repeated. Let's now get the bilateral hockey relations between India and Pakistan back on track.”
Let’s move on: Pakistan coach
"We don't want to raise that but I can tell you that Indian players too have treated us badly in the past. These things happen in an India-Pakistan game," Imran said.
He continued, "But we are here to bury the hatchet and this red rose is a sign of that.”
"Why do you keep coming back to that topic? It's past now. We've apologised. Let's move on," the coach interrupted as another reporter was about to ask a question about his team’s behaviour.
"But this rose is for you; that's why we came here," Sheikh said.