The Indian team management has alleged bias in the decision to ban three Indian players and two members of the coaching staff for their alleged role in the brawl during a match against Pakistan in the hockey tri-series in Australia last week. Claiming that it was the Pakistanis who were more to blame for the free-for-all, the team management on Monday filed an appeal to the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

Midfielder Gurbaj Singh, forwards Gurvinder Singh Chandi and Tushar Khandker, assistant coach Jugraj Singh and the team's exercise physiologist David John, who was the stand-in manager for the game, were handed bans by tournament director Graham Napier for their involvement in the skirmish with Pakistani players.

"The team management in Australia wanted my approval to file the appeal and I gave it though I have not seen the footage of the incident myself," Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra told Mail Today. "Our chief executive officer Elena Norman, who is in Australia with the team, has filed the appeal.

"They claim that the Pakistan players were the instigators but one of our players Gurbaj Singh, who received two stitches, was suspended for three matches. "There seems to be some bias against India in these matters. We had made a written complaint against the Pakistan coach who verbally abused our players at the Asian Champions Trophy at Ordos, China, but no action was taken against him," he said.

Apart from Gurbaj, Chandi and Jugraj were banned for five matches. Tushar and John got one- match suspension each, while Pakistani skipper Shakeel Abbasi was also handed the same punishment. Batra said he will take up the matter with the world body but added that a verdict on the appeal could take some time. "The matter will now be referred to the FIH appeals committee which can revoke, reduce or even increase the punishment if it deems fit.

"I will attend an FIH meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on November 12 and will definitely take it up with them. The matter is expected to take that long as the committee needs time to convene." The meeting will discuss the ongoing governing crisis in Indian hockey which has cast doubts on India hosting the Olympic qualifiers next year. FIH has also threatened Hockey India with de-recognition.

After the ongoing Australia tour, India's next assignment is the Champions Challenge in South Africa in November. Most of the players punished will have served their sentences as they stand by then. "The one-match suspension imposed on Tushar and David ended with today's match against Australia. Gurbaj's three- match ban will also be served during the Australia tour itself. "The suspended players can be on the bench but cannot play a match. It is up to the team management to decide which matches to include in the sentence," Batra said. Chandi and Jugraj will still have a part of their suspensions to be served after the tour to Australia.