Portugal fear suspension from FIFA

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LISBON, Portugal -- FIFA could suspend Portugal from international football for failing to resolve a relegation row that disrupted the start of the Premier League season, a source close to the Portuguese federation has said.

The president of the Portuguese federation (FPF), Gilberto Madail, met FIFA on Thursday to explain the legal wrangle involving Gil Vicente.

A FIFA spokesman would not comment on the content of the meeting. However, Madail has said he is "very pessimistic" about FIFA's decision, which should be announced in the next two to three days.

"We are very worried about the way FIFA labelled this case and fear it may lead to Portugal's suspension from international competitions," revealed the source.

Portuguese media also claimed UEFA are considering replacing Porto, Sporting and Benfica in the Champions league with Chievo, Osasuna and Ajax.

Portugal are also due to play Finland in a Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday.

Gil Vicente were suspended from the Premier League after using Angolan amateur player Mateus last season.

They then applied to a civil court to clear the player's eligibility asking the court to suspend some of the Premier League games they were supposed to play in, causing disarray at the start of the season.

The Portuguese government said it would issue a decree claiming it is in the public interest for Gil Vicente to bow to a recent federation ruling relegating the team from the Premier League.

The government hoped the decree would countervene a civil court order suspending some of the games involving Gil Vicente and bring the league back to normality.

"The government will issue a decree of public interest... everything that was ruled by the Federation's judicial body is to be honored," Laurentino Alves, secretary of state for Sports, said after meeting with the president of the FPF and the Portuguese League.

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