Batra told dna on Tuesday that Van Ass had lied by saying that he was not provided with a return ticket to join the team in Shilaroo, Himachal Pradesh. Batra revealed that the federation had sent Van Ass a ticket on June 9 itself.
A day after Paul Van Ass slammed Hockey India president Narinder Batra, the latter returned the compliment by calling the Dutchman "a liar".
Batra told dna on Tuesday that Van Ass had lied by saying that he was not provided with a return ticket to join the team in Shilaroo, Himachal Pradesh. Batra revealed that the federation had sent Van Ass a ticket on June 9 itself.
"HI sent him a flight on June 9. He was supposed to return to India from The Netherlands on July 17. I have the records. Then he claimed that ticket was till Delhi and not Shilaroo. There is no airport in Shilaroo and one has to take a cab from Delhi to reach there. He could have done that," said Batra.
According to Batra, Van Ass realised he couldn't handle the pressure of expectations in India and "was looking for an opportunity to leave".
Clearing the air over his on-field spat with the coach in Antwerp, Batra refuted Van Ass's charges that "he broke protocol by having an on-field chat with the players after the match against Malaysia".
Batra said the organiser had invited him on the pitch and that he had sought Van Ass's permission before talking to the players.
"It was only after about 45 to 50 seconds of my interaction with players that the coach suddenly interrupted and asked me to leave the pitch. I was taken aback but maintained my cool and left the ground. 'You leave or I leave', this is what he told me in front of everyone there," Batra said.
Van Ass had told dna on Monday that "he did not know why he has been dismissed" but added "one of the reasons could be the on-field spat with the HI president after India's win in the quarterfinal against Malaysia early this month".
Van Ass had claimed that he was told by HI's high-performance director Roelant Oltmans that "his services are no longer required by HI". Batra shot back, saying, "Van Ass is employed by Sports Authority of India and HI, and not by Oltmans".
"If Oltmans mailed him anything, that's between the two of them. Van Ass is employed by SAI and it will only be on the recommendation of HI that any decision on his contract will be taken," the HI chief said.
Batra, meanwhile, confirmed that a final decision will be taken in the July 24 meeting in New Delhi.
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