The Hockey India League (HIL) is facing a major crisis as leading European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and England, have refused to release their players for the upcoming season. The decision, which is a significant blow to the league, stems from a packed 2026 international calendar, with the FIH Hockey World Cup being the main priority for these nations. The refusal to release players comes on the heels of the HIL's last season, which saw a mass exodus of over two dozen international players due to issues with pay and venue.
Players from these four countries constituted nearly half of the 96 international stars in the previous edition of the league. With their national federations now refusing to give them the green light, the HIL is staring at the prospect of an even bigger talent void for the upcoming season. This development has alarmed team franchises, who were left scrambling for replacements last season and are now urging Hockey India to intervene.
Franchise officials have reportedly held meetings with both Hockey India and International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Tayyab Ikram to find a solution. Sources indicate that Ikram has agreed to "personally talk to national federations and convince them to release players." A Hockey India official stated that they are in communication with these countries and hope to provide clarity to franchises before the mini player auction scheduled for late September.
Since its revival in December 2024 after a seven-year hiatus, the HIL has been plagued by one issue after another. The previous season was marred by the withdrawal of 29 foreign players, who cited unappealing salaries and venue issues as reasons for their pullouts. To address these concerns, Hockey India had already planned to shorten the league and spread it across three different cities this season, including Chennai, Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar.
The league has also suffered the loss of two teams from the previous seaso; Team Gonasika from the men's league and the women's champions, Odisha Warriors. The Odisha Warriors were reportedly unable to pay their players until Hockey India intervened. Despite these setbacks, a franchise official emphasized the importance of foreign players for the overall development of Indian hockey, stating that their presence adds value and helps young Indian players improve. The official added that while "the league will happen, we don’t want the bigger picture; improvement of Indian hockey, to get diluted."
