Athens: International Hockey Federation (FIH) today (Aug 21, 2004) rejected India's protest against the umpire's decision to award a penalty corner to New Zealand, which led to a last-minute goal and knocked the eight-time gold medallists out of Olympic medal contention.

Spanish umpire Xavier Adell's decision to award the set piece to New Zealand after the final hooter overruling fellow umpire Ray O'Connor, who had signalled the end of the match, led to the decisive goal in the Pool B match.

The Indian delegation had lodged an official complaint with technical official Ken Read of Australia in writing within 15 minutes of the end of the game, as the rules of the sport dictate.

Tournament Director Wiert Doyer of the Netherlands, however, dismissed the protest within two hours after it was lodged.

In a statement, Doyer said, "The decision to award the goal was the decision of an umpire during a match. I am firmly of the view that the match had not ended. Accordingly, Regulation 18.4 prohibits me from considering the protest."

In the official protest, the Indians claimed that the awarding of the penalty corner was not according to the rules as the umpire (O'connor) had signalled the end of the match.

India argued that the interference of umpire Xavier Adell -- that led to the awarding of a penalty corner and eventually to the winner -- came after the conclusion of the game and was therefore contrary to the rules.

Doyer made it clear there was no breach of rules and gave a detailed explanation pertaining to the relevant clauses to support his point.

"I have concluded that the incidents did not occur. The incident that the ball travels outside the circle for the second time did not occur as the ball went over the back line and did not travel outside the circle for a second time," he said.