SAI gags Brasa after controversial interview

New Delhi :

India's chief hockey coach Jose Brasa was on Friday gagged from speaking to the media after a controversial interview in which he claimed that he was being treated like a slave by the Sports Authority of India and Hockey India.

The Sports Authority of India promptly reacted by putting 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.

The new controversy in Indian hockey ignited after Brasa accused HI 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 selections.

Brasa's comments have infuriated HI, whose secretary general Narinder Batra said that the Spaniard was 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.