History Made at TPL 3.0 – 🎥Video Referrals Debut in Knockouts!

The Tiruvallur Premier League 3.0 is not just about hockey anymore — it is about rewriting the standards of what a regional league can be. In a groundbreaking first for local hockey, the Technical Director of TPL announced that Video Umpire Referrals will be introduced from the Qualifiers onwards, adding an international touch to a league born from Tamil Nadu’s soil.

On 29th August at 4:00 PM, Income Tax will clash with AGORC in Qualifier 1, with the winner meeting the mighty Indian Bank in Qualifier 2 under floodlights on 30th August at 5:30 PM. And for both encounters — as well as the Grand Final — players will now have the chance to challenge critical calls through video referral, an innovation that will change the face of the competition.

📋 What is Video Referral?

Each team will have one referral per match and one in shoot-outs. Referrals are allowed for incidents within the 23-metre area, covering:

• ✅ Award or non-award of Goals

• ✅ Penalty Strokes 🎯

• ✅ Penalty Corners 🚩

• ✅ Shoot-out re-takes

❌ Personal penalty cards (green, yellow, red) cannot be referred.

Players must make the “T” hand signal immediately after an incident, clearly stating their reason. The Video Umpire will review footage from available angles before advising the On-Field Umpire, who makes the final decision.

🎥 VIDEO UMPIRE REFERRAL – OFFICIAL RULES (TPL 3.0) adopted from FIH rule books.

2 UMPIRE REFERRAL

2.1 The On Field Umpires may refer decisions to the Video Umpire when they are not convinced that they have taken, or are able to take, the correct decision relating to the awarding or disallowing of goals; or the award / non-award of penalty stroke decisions.

a the awarding / disallowing of goals;

b or the award / non-award of Penalty Strokes; or

c Serious misconduct incidents anywhere on the field of play

2.2 Referrals shall only relate to whether or not a goal has been legally scored or if a Penalty Stroke has been correctly awarded or not awarded, or if Serious Misconduct has or has not occurred.

2.3 The On Field Umpires are therefore entitled to request the Video Umpire to assist in making decisions which include, but are not restricted to:

a. whether the ball crossed the goal line (within the area bounded by the goal posts and crossbar);

b. whether the ball was legally played or touched inside the circle by the stick of an attacker and did not travel outside the circle before passing completely over the goal-line and under the cross-bar;

c. whether the ball travelled outside the circle before it entered the goal either from a shot by an attacker during the taking of a penalty corner;

d. whether a breach of the Rules has been observed within the attacking 23 metre area in the play leading to the awarding or disallowing of a goal. It is then for the On Field Umpire to take any breach into account in reaching their decision.

e. whether an offence has been committed by a defender in the circle which prevents the probable scoring of a goal, or there has been an intentional offence in the circle by a defender against an opponent who has possession of the ball or an opportunity to play the ball.

f. whether any Serious Misconduct has been committed, on or off the ball, anywhere on the field of play.

2.4 The On Field Umpire requests Video Umpire assistance using the “television-screen” signal; he / she relays by radio to the Video Umpire whatever information is necessary.

4. TEAM REFERRAL

1. Allowance of Referrals

   
   

   • Each team is allowed:

     
     

     • One referral per match (during regulation time).

     • One referral during a shoot-out competition.

     
     

2. Scope of Referrals

   Referrals are restricted to incidents within the 23-metre area, relating to:

   
   

   • The award or non-award of a Goal 🥅

   • The award or non-award of a Penalty Stroke (PS) 🎯

   • The award or non-award of a Penalty Corner (PC) 🚩

   • Whether a shoot-out should be re-taken

   
   

   ❌ Not permitted: Referrals cannot be made for personal penalty cards (green, yellow, red).

   
   

3. Who Can Request a Referral

   
   

   • Any player on the field of play at the time of the incident may request.

   • The player must:

     
     

     • Show the “T” signal ✋ immediately after the incident.

     • Confirm this verbally to the umpire.

     
     

4. Timing of Request

   
   

   • The request must be made immediately after the incident.

   • The player must clearly state the exact nature of the referral within 20 seconds.

   • If no explanation is given within 20 seconds → the referral automatically defaults to the last decision/non-decision involving a Goal, Penalty Stroke, Penalty Corner, or Shoot-out.

   
   

5. TEAM REFERRAL PROCESS

1. Requesting Review

   
   

   • The On-Field Umpire signals Video Referral using:

     • The “TV Screen” signal 📺 followed by the “T” signal ✋.

     
     

   • The umpire relays information by radio to the Video Umpire.

   
   

2. Video Umpire Action

   
   

   • The Video Umpire calls for as many replays from available angle as necessary.

   • Decision is provided in the shortest possible time.

   
   

3. Standard Phrases Used

   The Video Umpire will use the phrase:

   • “I have advice for you”, followed by one of:

     • ✅ Goal / ❌ No Goal

     • ✅ Penalty Stroke / ❌ No Penalty Stroke

     • ✅ Penalty Corner / ❌ No Penalty Corner

     • ✅ Shoot-out to be re-taken / ❌ No shoot-out re-take

     • ❓ No Advice Possible

     
     

   • The Video Umpire may also alert the umpire to any observed breach of the Rules.

   
   

4. Referral Outcome & Rights

   
   

   • If the referral is upheld → the team retains its referral.

   • If “No Advice Possible” (e.g., inconclusive video, technical issues) → the team retains its referral.

   • If there is no clear reason to overturn the on-field umpire’s decision → the team loses its referral.

   • A decision once referred and adjudicated cannot be re-referred by the other team.

6. FINAL AUTHORITY & OTHER CONDITIONS

1. Decision-Making

   
   

   • The final decision always rests with the On-Field Umpire, not the Video Umpire.

   • All other decisions outside referral scope remain with On-Field Umpires.

   
   

2. Substitutions During Referrals

   
   

   • 🚫 Substitutions cannot take place during the stoppage for a Video Referral.

   • ✅ Substitutions are allowed once play resumes, as per the normal Rules of Hockey.

✅ SUMMARY

• One referral per team, per match (+1 in shoot-out).

• Referrals limited to Goals, Penalty Strokes, Penalty Corners, Shoot-outs.

• “T” signal + verbal request within 20 seconds required.

• Video Umpire advises, On-Field Umpire decides.

• Teams keep their referral if upheld or inconclusive.

• No subs during review.

🗣️ Voices from the Turf

Mr. Moghul Mohammed Muneer, one of the strong pillars of Hockey Tiruvallur, hailed the moment:

“This is more than just technology; it’s about fairness. Every player, coach, and fan deserves to know that the game is decided on skill, not on error. Bringing video referral to TPL is a step towards the global stage.”

Padmashri V. Baskaran, Olympian and guiding light for the league, reflected with pride:

“We once dreamed of playing under proper floodlights, with international-level facilities. Today, Egmore sees not just the lights, but video referrals too. This is a festival of hockey, and our youngsters now play in an atmosphere that matches the best in the world.”

🌟 A New Standard for Local Leagues

With Egmore Stadium buzzing on Vinayagar Chaturthi and packed crowds raising the decibels, the introduction of video referral is the latest sign that TPL 3.0 has set a benchmark in Indian hockey.

What started as a dream for Tiruvallur now feels like a rehearsal for the future of Indian hockey — professional, global, and uncompromising on quality.

🔥 From Qualifier 1 to the Final, every decision will now be watched, checked, and trusted. This is TPL 3.0 — where local pride meets international standards.