Paris Olympics hockey ace smacks Team GB star in HEAD with stick and is sent off for ‘serious misconduct’
TEAM GB star Will Calnan was struck in the face during the Paris Olympics hockey clash against India.
The Brits were taking on India in the quarter-finals as they aimed to make it to the last four.
However, the match took a turn less than 15 minutes into the second quarter as India’s Amit Rohidas was sent off.
The star was challenging Calnan for the ball when he lifted his stick and caught the Brit in the face.
Calnan fell to the floor and appeared in a decent amount of pain as he was checked on by his team-mates.
The official initially believed that the challenge would be health with a yellow card and 10-minute sin-bin.
But after review, it was decided that Rohidas had deliberately raised his stick to hit Calnan, and he was sent off for “serious misconduct”.
Former Team GB Olympian agreed with the decision to dismiss the Rohidas.
He told the BBC: “That is massive! Unfortunately, from those pictures, I have got to agree with that decision to give a red card.
“Amit Rohidas’ stick was in an unnatural position as it was raised.
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“I was looking to see if the sticks were hooked in some way and he was just pulling to release his stick.
“But it just looks awful and there is no reason for his stick to go up to that position.
“This fundamentally shifts the whole momentum of the game.”
Despite India going down to ten men, they managed to break the deadlock.
India captain Harmanpreet Singh thumped his effort after an initial save from goalkeeper Ollie Payne.
However, Team GB did get themselves level through Lee Morton before half-time.
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