India's chief hockey coach Jose Brasa was on Friday prevented from speaking to the media after he claimed, in an interview, that he is being treated like a slave by the Sports Authority of India and Hockey India.
The Sports Authority of India promptly reacted by slapping a gag order on the Spaniard till the Commonwealth Games.
"I am sorry I can't speak to any journalist. I have been forbidden by my employer SAI this afternoon to give any interviews to journalists till the Commonwealth Games," Brasa said from Pune.
"They asked me not to speak to any journalist as it might hamper the team's preparations for the Commonwealth Games," he said.
"But, definitely, I will speak to you guys after the Games," he added.
A new controversy in Indian hockey ignited after Brasa accused Hockey and SAI of treating him like a slave and not honouring their promise of taking care of his family's accommodation and education.
In the interview, Brasa also said that despite being the chief coach he had hardly any role to play in team selection.
Brasa's comments infuriated Hockey India, whose secretary general, Narinder Batra, said the Spaniard is trying to portray himself as a "martyr" after failing to deliver in his job.
"What I feel is that Brasa wants to paint himself as a martyr because he knows his contract won't be renewed after the Asian Games. He has failed to deliver. Nothing is exceptional about him," Batra said.
