``I have been cheated,'' said the 45-year-old Ivo Sajh-Sceich, struggling to hold back his tears, after he came to know of his sacking. ``I was not given any official contract,'' he said. ``Every time I brought up the issue, it was deferred.''

India, under Ivo, performed miserably in the recent Rajiv Gandhi tournament. Sceich had come to India on a $ 2000 agreement, which he calls highly inadequate. ``However, I thought that preparing an Indian team would be a real challenge, so I took up this offer.'' His name had been recommended to the AIFF by FIFA official Walter Gagg.

The coach is particularly unhappy at the way he has been treated during the preparation camps for the under-16 team. He feels wronged by Ranjit Gupta, the Indian Football Association joint secretary and currently in-charge of the under-16 team.

``I never got the things I asked for and to top it, Gupta interfered in the coaching programme too. He wanted me to follow his directives.''

The bitter coach will now report his grievances to FIFA and table his findings on Indian football. He would also suggest that no European coaches be sent to India. ``I have no complaints against football in India, but only at the way it is being run.''