FIH issues unconditional apology to Pakistan over incorrect flag display during Pro League Match
Webdesk
|
24 Jun 2026
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has formally apologised to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) after Pakistan’s national flag was incorrectly displayed during a Hockey Pro League match in England.
In a letter addressed to PHF President Mohiuddin Ahmad Wani, FIH Hockey Pro League Director Hilary Atkinson expressed deep regret over the incident and offered an unconditional apology on behalf of the international governing body.
According to the letter, the FIH accepted full responsibility for what it described as an operational error and acknowledged the significance of national flags as symbols of identity, pride and representation.
“We take full responsibility for this operational mistake and apologise without reservation,” Atkinson wrote. “We fully understand that a team’s flag is an important symbol of its identity, pride and representation.”
The FIH official also acknowledged the distress caused by the error to the Pakistan hockey team, its supporters, the general public and the national federation.
“We deeply regret the hurt caused to the Pakistani team, their supporters, the public and the national federation,” the letter stated.
