Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president K.P.S. Gill, under attack from different quarters on team selection, Saturday tried to defend IHF's functioning on every count, saying "there was no question of countering" the dissent within the national body.

Gill was clearly forced to call the press conference after Germany's Gerhard Rach, who was India's coach until recently, alleged irregularities in selection and called the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) a "madhouse".

Narender Batra, one of the federation's two vice presidents, who was also present at the press conference, too had alleged lack of transparency.

Incidentally, Batra said he stands by what he said and also stated that he would stand for the IHF president's post next year "if no one comes forward".

Gill declined to react to Batra's allegations, saying he would discuss the issues at the executive committee meeting at Hyderabad Jan 28.

"There is no question of countering dissent. We will discuss it at the executive committee meeting," said Gill, a former director general of police, Punjab.

On Rach's various allegations, Gill doubted his ability to understand English, and said: "His knowledge of English was very, very poor."

Rach had alleged that veteran player Dhanraj Pillay, who was initially dropped from the Olympic probables list, was the "most disobedient" player in the team that finished seventh in the Athens Olympic Games in August last year.

Gill, who apparently never liked Pillay for his outspokenness and attitude, reacted to Rach's comments on the forward saying: "It's nonsense. Dhanraj had a wonderful tournament (Olympics)."

On team selection, Gill said all selectors and the squad stayed in the same hotel in Dusseldorf, Germany, where India played a four-nation tournament ahead of the Olympics.

It was at Dusseldorf that Rajinder Singh was sent back and Rach was appointed a few weeks ahead of the Olympics in a surprise move.

Gill said he was forced to appoint Rach as "there was no option left" and claimed that Rajinder went back to India on his own.

Claiming that the Olympic selection was fair, Gill stated: "There was so much competition for each place. It was a difficult selection. Rach was happy with the team."

Reminded about Rajinder's allegation that "circumstances were created for him to leave", Gill said if he had said so "it was unfortunate".

Batra, who said he came to the press conference on the invitation of Gill, said the IHF's functioning was dictatorial.

"The info is restricted to the president and the secretary (K. Jothikumaran)," he claimed.

Gill disagreed and said there was no secrecy in the IHF's functioning. The former policeman, now into his third term as IHF chief, also said he would not contest for the post next year when the election is due.

Batra said he was not aware of any IHF marketing committee. "I don't know whether any marketing committee exists or not," he added.