Hockey India League has named Australian Josh Burt as the Technical Delegate and New Zealand’s Colin French as the Umpire Manager for the 2024-2025 edition.
Burt, who has been officiating at international tournaments since 2011, has been part of several major events including the 2013 Men’s Junior World Cup, 2014 Youth Olympic Games, 2015 and 2017 Hockey World League Semi-Finals, 2012 and 2018 Champions Trophy and the Olympics from 2016-2024.
While he first became known in India for portraying the Australian coach in the movie Chak De! India, Burt gained notoriety recently for officially confirming the one-match suspension of Amit Rohidas on appeal following his red card during the quarterfinals against Great Britain.
“On 4 August 2024, ROHIDAS Amit (player No.30 of India) was suspended for one (1) match for a Breach of the FIH Code of Conduct which occurred during match no. M32 India v Great Britain on 4th August, 2024. The suspension affects match no. M35 on 6th August 2024, where ROHIDAS Amit will not participate, and India will play with a squad of fifteen (15) players only,” the official communication issued by Burt as the technical delegate read.
“It’s both an honour and privilege…I am committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, fairness, and integrity throughout the tournament… I understand the significance of fair play and the impact it has on the overall experience for both the players and fans alike,” Burt said in a statement.
French, who began his international umpiring career with the Oceania Cup in 2013, has since been part of the Trans-Tasman Trophy, Youth Olympic Games, Pro League, Commonwealth Games and World Cup. “This will be an amazing event involving some of the finest hockey players, coaches, and officials. I look forward to working alongside Hockey India to help deliver this amazing hockey league event,” he said