The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has approved a variation to the rules in relation to the penalty for a green card in the forthcoming ABN AMRO Champions Trophy 2009 in Melbourne, Australia and the three Men's World Cup Qualifiers 2009.

The following variation to the Rules will form part of Appendix 6 of the Tournament Regulations for these tournaments only:

  • WorldHockey World Cup Qualifier men, Lille (France) - 31 October/08 November 2009
  • BDO World Cup Qualifier men, Invercargill (New Zealand) - 07-15 November 2009
  • BDO World Cup Qualifier men, Quilmes (Argentina) - 14-22 November 2009
  • ABN AMRO Champions Trophy men, Melbourne (Australia) - 28 November/06 December 2009

Green Card - Two Minute Suspension

For any offence, the offending player may be warned (indicated by a green card).

  • Where a green card is issued the offending player is temporarily suspended for two (2) minutes.
  • Temporarily suspended players must remain in a designated place until permitted by the technical officer on duty to resume play.
  • During the period of temporary suspension of a player, the team plays with one less player.
  • The umpire immediately restarts the game after the issue of the green card.
  • The offending player must leave the field immediately. If the player interferes with play on the way to the designated place the umpire further penalises the player under the normal conduct of play provisions.
  • The two minute temporary suspension commences when the player is seated at the designated area.
  • The timing of the suspension is controlled by the technical officials on duty at the technical table.

This variation to the Rules of Hockey was approved by the FIH Office Bearers to be used at the men's World Cup Qualifiers 2009 and the men's ABN AMRO Champions Trophy 2009 following a proposal from a working party comprising the Chairs and Secretaries of the Hockey Rules Board, Competitions Committee, Umpiring Committee and the Chair of the Athletes Panel. In addition, the Competitions Committee at its recent meeting in Lausanne endorsed the trial of this rule variation.