NEW DELHI, Nov. 12 -- Trapped in a governance crisis amid infighting between its president Dilip Tirkey and secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, Hockey India (HI) has been served a warning by the world body. The international hockey federation (FIH) has written to HI warning it of "suspension or expulsion" if there is "interference from an outside body". "The FIH would, however, draw Hockey India's attention to the fact that interference by an outside body in a National Association's affairs is a matter addressed under Article 2.6 of the FIH Statutes, and it would be obliged to consider the position under those provisions should the concern not be resolved in a timely manner," FIH director general Mike Joyce wrote to Singh in a letter, in possession of HT, dated November 9. Article 2.6 (v) of the FIH statutes state that the FIH Congress may suspend or expel any member if "a body from outside the Olympic Movement interferes with the autonomy of the Member, in respect of its operations and/or its composition or otherwise...". The immediate trigger for FIH's letter was an order by the High Court of Orissa which stayed HI's executive body elections - slated for Dec 5 - until a final hearing on Dec 9. The court had also pressed pause on a show-cause notice issued by HI to the Hockey Association of Odisha, which sought to downgrade the state unit from permanent member to associate member after revelations that all 30 of its district units were headed by government or administrative officers. Tirkey, a former India hockey captain, is president of the Hockey Association of Odisha. Citing Articles 1.4(c), 2.2(b), and 2.6(a) of the FIH statutes alongside the autonomy principle of the Olympic Charter, FIH warned that national bodies must run their affairs free from outside influence. "As stated in its previous communication, the FIH continues to support Hockey India's Executive Committee, whose term has been extended to 31 Dec, 2026. The FIH considers it important that elections take place before that date...," the letter said. HI has been roiled by power struggle and instability. The friction caused by rifts between Tirkey and Singh was aggravated by a decision to swap the national team's blue jersey for a saffron-coloured kit ahead of Asian Games. The issue sparked a public criticism, and led to internal disciplinary actions. In response to the fallout, Tirkey served a show-cause notice and stripped HI Director General Cdr RK Srivastava of his powers, which only intensified executive infighting. Compounding this leadership feud, the federation has faced a crisis regarding the revival and commercial restructuring of the Hockey India League (HIL), which is now unlikely to happen. Franchise friction, disagreements over revenue models, and threats of an exodus by teams led to intervention by the sports ministry to draft a survival roadmap....