The FIH has put a trial of new rules for hockey penalty corners on hold as it reassesses ways to protect the "original characteristics" of the move ©FIH

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has put a trial of new rules for hockey penalty corners, which are designed to improve athlete safety, on hold, as it looks at ways to "protect the original characteristics" of the move.

The FIH had planned a trial of a new rule, in which the ball had to travel at least five metres out of the circle, beyond the dotted five metres circle, before a goal could be scored.

This was designed to reduce the risk of injury by removing the option of a direct shot, eliminating the need for defenders to have to run at an attacker shooting towards goal.

The FIH said the decision was made after "internal consultation" with the governing body’s President Tayyab Ikram saying in a statement: "I think it is wise for us not to proceed with this trial, because we must protect the original characteristics of the penalty corner.

"Athlete safety must not be compromised, but the penalty corner is such an integral and iconic part of our game that we must be very considerate and careful when we explore changes to it.

"Therefore, I have initiated a re-evaluation and further evaluation to design a trial that will protect the original form of the penalty corner, while we also continue to work on enhancing athlete safety in our game and especially in the penalty corner situation."

The FIH had planned to trial a new rule for hockey penalty corners, designed to eliminate the need for defenders to run at an attacker preparing to shoot at goal, but this has been put on hold ©Getty Images
The FIH had planned to trial a new rule for hockey penalty corners, designed to eliminate the need for defenders to run at an attacker preparing to shoot at goal, but this has been put on hold ©Getty Images

The FIH told The Times of India during this month's Asian Champions Trophy that no competitions that include athletes who are hoping to qualify for Paris 2024 would be used for the trial as "the rules will not change before then."

Before the announcement that the FIH had put its trial of the new rule on hold, former Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar, who was part of the side that won gold at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou in China, had called on the FIH to reconsider in a post on Facebook.  

"This will limit the influence of goalkeepers in winning tournaments," Akbar wrote.

"Drag-flick is an art and has equal influence in winning tournaments.

"Eliminating this battle between penalty corner defence and attack will not bring any attraction or benefit to this beautiful sport."

The FIH launched a consultation programme entitled "The Future of Penalty Corner" in May 2022, which received more than 4,300 responses from around the world.