England Hockey has racism problem and must admit it, says hockey club chairman

Pawar wrote a letter to England Hockey, co-signed by eight other clubs, accusing the governing body of having an issue with "endemic racism".

His letter said hockey has grown to become an "elitist sport" in Britain, dominated by people from affluent areas while those from more socially deprived backgrounds are left behind due to a lack of funding and support.

England Hockey responded with a statement, saying it hopes to "remain at the forefront of British team sports as a force for good in diversity and inclusion, with regards to race, gender, sexuality, disability and age".

It added that a Diversity and Inclusion working group had been formed last year "with the aim of creating long-term strategy" as well as "to share and ascertain the facts around diversity and inclusion" in hockey.