Two players of Mumbai's leading hockey team Western Railway -- goalkeeper Suraj Kanta and Sairam Bishnoi -- have been suspended with immediate effect for one and two years respectively from all domestic hockey tournaments after assaulting an umpire during a local Super League match in Mumbai.
The two players, who along with teammates Rajnish Chaturvedi and Kuldeep Singh, beat up umpire Vijay Shetty during a match against Indian Navy on Tuesday, were suspended by the disciplinary committee of the Bombay Hockey Association.
BHA secretary Kehar Singh said: "Suraj Kanta and Sairaj Bishnoi have been suspended for one and two years for assaulting umpire Shetty, while two other players -- Rajnish Chaturvedi and Kuldeep Singh -- are suspended for the entire duration of the league for the same reason.
"We will send a copy of their suspensions to the Indian Hockey Federation and Western Railway management. They cannot play any hockey anywhere in India during the period of their suspensions."
The four players pounced on the umpire with seven minutes left for the match to end, and Western Railway, winners of the prestigious Bombay Gold Cup tournament two years ago, leading Navy 2-1, after Kanta was given temporary marching orders for hitting a rival player with his stick following a Navy foray.
The player reportedly abused umpire Shetty following the incident and was sent off with a red card. He assaulted the umpire on his way out.
The other three players also joined in the fracas and the match was abandoned at that stage.
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