Ireland coach angry after loss to New Zealand

IRELAND hockey coach David Passmore has slammed the organisers of the Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland after a controversial goal helped the host nation to a 3-1 win over Ireland yesterday.

Ireland were leading 1-0 after 25 minutes of the opening half when a cross from the right was deflected into the Irish net off the chest of New Zealand striker David Kasoof. Most of the players and the crowd seemed to think it was off his chest but Dutch umpire Rob van Cate disagreed and the goal stood.

“I am not blaming the umpires, we all miss things, but this has happened to us before,” said Passmore. “The situation we have here is farcical, that there are video umpires for the last two days of the tournament and there isn’t for the other days. I just don’t think it is fair on the players. Hockey is letting the players down.”