All the Pakistan hockey team had to do, was smirk and walk away, letting the scoreboard do the talking for them. Instead, they sent the world a reminder that the principle of ‘sportsmanship’ isn't a prescription for the losing team alone.

Through the course of this article, my signature snark will be delivered in strictly metered doses; so as to not fan disproportional outrage against the players, nor appease those who laugh it off as a complete non-issue.

Beginning with the fact that the athletes were provoked by unruly groups among the Indian spectators who were catcalling the players, the young athletes whipped off their shirts and responded fittingly. Note, “fittingly” does not make it decent or professional.

 

In pictures: Pakistan vs India: When the shirts came off

 

I admit, even I spilled my cup of Earl Grey all over my well-starched shirt, at the sight of that dreadful rudeness. I politely asked my maid, Mrs. Judgington, to turn off the telly until the athletes had composed themselves.

There was nothing politically incorrect about the behavior, as far as I can tell; it was not offensive to black people; it did not belittle the tragedy of 9/11; no one suffered head injury or had a concussion; and it did not propagate a ‘deadly’ culture of crude gesturing that paves way to a grotesquely dystopian future.

It’s important to keep the indignation within reasonable bounds. Coach Sheikh Shahnaz, after all, officially apologised for his team’s behavior, and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) examined the incident, arriving at a conclusion that “no further action is warranted”.