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Football

Portugal's Scolari gives assurance


LISBON, Portugal -- Luiz Felipe Scolari had to reassure president of the Portuguese federation, Gilberto Madail, on Tuesday he wants to stay as coach until the 2006 World Cup.

But Madail expressed frustration Scolari's agent had evoked the possibility of his client returning to club football just days before the Euro 2004 opener against Greece.

Scolari's deal ends next month and Madail said: "I can tell you that I did not appreciate Gilmar Veloz's (Scolari's agent) comments.

"I found them inconvenient especially as he had just told me he would be staying on till the 2006 World Cup.

"So Scolari apparently wants to return to club football? Scolari has a contract that binds him to us during the entirety of his contract and is sacrosanct.

"Even if there are contacts with other clubs, and that is perfectly legitimate, this is not the moment to be talking about them."

However despite Madail's belief that Scolari - who guided Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title - would stay on, the on-line edition of Expresso claimed that he would be coaching Portuguese First Division side Benfica.

A furious Scolari, though, later denied he would be going to Benfica at a press conference in which he refused to take any questions.

"When they say that I have already signed a contract with Benfica it is false and shameful on the part of those people," he stormed.

"It is malevolent on their part and idiotic with regard to the morale of the squad."

Scolari said that if any offer from Benfica existed it would be pointless the club thinking he would accept it.

"If an offer does come to light at some point it will cease to instantly. If I do not remain coach of Portugal I will not be going to Benfica either."

Scolari said that all the speculation would not affect the players ahead of their clash with Greece.

"Nobody is going to destabilise my players," he said.

"I am going to the match on Saturday and it will not be as Scolari the coach of Benfica but Scolari, coach of Portugal."

Scolari took the helm of the Portuguese national team in January 2003 just six months after he led his native Brazil to a record fifth world title in Japan, winning all seven World Cup matches in the process.


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