Kolkata: The Indian soccer team manager at the Asian Games Santo Mitra on Friday alleged that his squad was 'ignored' and 'neglected' by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officials as well as the tournament committee in Busan.

"The soccer team did not get justice from the tournament committee. But what pained me more is the way my squad was ignored and neglected by the officials who represented the IOA there," Mitra said.

The only Indian squad to have gone at its own cost, the football team could not even get a protest letter typed against the match commissioner's decision to banish Chief Coach Stephen Constantine to the gallery during the Turkmenistan match.

Constantine was hauled up for arguing with the referee after the lung opener in Bangladesh for his controversial decision to march out Dipak Mandal for a foul.

"We also were not provided services of a doctor during the Turkmenistan outing," he alleged, adding "All this happened despite the fact that scores of IOA and SAI officials, doctors and office assistants were sent to Busan at government expense."

While a SAI doctor voluntarily agreed to be with the squad during the Bangladesh match, Mitra had to ask organisers for a local doctor during the second encounter.

"Fortunately, the noted medico Vece Pes, who was sent with the tennis team, came to our rescue after the second match to treat injured medio Rennedy Singh," he said.

The daily meeting of team managers and IOA officials scheduled at 7:00 p.m. had almost become 'farcical' as none of the top officials were available most of the time, Mitra said.

However, despite such 'shabby treatment', the soccer squad, led by a spirited Baichung Bhutia, could leave a mark at the Games, narrowly missing a quarter-final berth.

"The Turkmenistan coach sought Bhutia for their club. South Korea's technical committee director said he has not seen such an Indian team for a long time," he said.

The team was also congratulated by Malaysian and Japanese officials and referees present at the venue. But, these could hardly compensate for the 'injustice' meted out to the Indian squad.

"We asked the tournament committee why all the concluding group matches were not played simultaneously, as per FIFA guidelines. They said it was due to non- availability of grounds. Whatever be the reasons, we suffered," the manager said.

PTI