IRELAND's leading hockey umpire, Ray O'Connor, has been appointed to officiate at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. Dubliner O'Connor (38) has handled more than 70 international matches. His most prestigious tournament to date was the European Championship at Belfield last summer when he umpired the final, in which Germany beat the Netherlands in a penalty shoot out.

Meanwhile the International Hockey Federation has announced it will investigate Canadian allegations of match fixing in India's 0-0 draw with Malaysia in the Olympic qualifiers (for which Ireland barely failed to gain inclusion).

Canada protested that India had contrived last month's draw in Barcelona to allow Malaysia to qualify for the Atlanta tournament ahead of the Canadians.

The FIH said in a statement from Brussels that this is the first time such an investigation has had to be carried out. "This is a matter we are taking very seriously," said secretary general Els Van Breda Vriesman.

"Much hangs in the balance for all the teams involved and for the reputation of hockey worldwide. However, it would be wrong to jump to conclusions without adequate substantiation. That is why a systematic process exists to investigate such matters."

The FIH is now convening a disciplinary committee, of at least five members, to look into the allegations.

Donald Patterson of Field Hockey Canada said last month: "The protest is simply that the game, which ultimately determined our outcome, was not competitive and not in the Olympic fair play spirit."