Queiroz given elbow by Portugal
Reuters - Thursday 09 September 2010, 20:28
LISBON - Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz was
sacked on Thursday in the wake of his six-month ban for
insulting anti-doping agents before this year's World Cup.
"Given recent events, the FPF directors decided unanimously
to settle (end) Carlos Queiroz's contract with immediate
effect," Portuguese Football Federation president Gilberto
Madail told a packed news conference.
"This decision has been communicated to Carlos Queiroz, who
will receive the reasons for the decision first hand," he added.
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The federation had given the coach, who had two years left
on his contract, a one-month ban in late August but Portugal's
anti-doping authority later extended that to six months.
Portugal have made a poor start to their Euro 2012
qualifying campaign with Queiroz consigned to the stands.
They are second from bottom of Group H with one point from
their first two qualifiers having lost 1-0 in Norway on Tuesday
following a 4-4 draw at home to Cyprus on Friday.
"I already sensed it was the inevitable path... We are not
satisfied with the fact that Queiroz's rights are not being
respected," the coach's lawyer Rui Patricio told reporters.
"If the contract has been terminated without just cause,
there has to be compensation. If there has been interference
from the government then international organisations, and I mean
FIFA of course, will be alerted," he added.
HARSH WORDS
The basis of Queiroz's defence has been that he did not
obstruct any anti-doping activity although he has admitted
exchanging harsh words with the agents during their surprise
visit to Portugal's training camp in May.
The coach said he was simply expressing his annoyance at
having his players' rest disturbed and had vowed to appeal the
ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Last month, Queiroz called Sir Alex Ferguson, under whom he
worked as an assistant manager at Manchester United for six
years, former Portugal winger Luis Figo and the club presidents
of Porto and Benfica as character witnesses.
Madail said the FPF will begin searching for a replacement
to take charge of the team before next month's Euro 2012
qualifiers at home to Denmark and away to Iceland.
Local media expect a Portuguese to be hired, with former
Sporting coach Paulo Bento set to be approached as he is not
currently coaching at club level and could start immediately.
Madail added that the FPF will hold new elections for the
federation board which he he heads.
Portugal's struggles in their Euro 2012 qualifiers have
occurred with winger Cristiano Ronaldo missing with an ankle
injury and the banned Queiroz looking on from the stands.
Agostinho Oliveira, who took charge as interim coach, said
the controversy surrounding Queiroz was not the reason for the
team's poor performance in their opening match.
FIRST SPELL
Queiroz's first spell as coach of Portugal also ended in
acrimony after they failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup and
he subsequently resigned and criticised the federation.
His second spell started in August 2008, when he left his
post at Manchester United to succeed the popular and successful
Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Portugal struggled in their early World Cup qualifiers and
had to produce a late run of form and then beat Bosnia in a
playoff to qualify for the finals.
They were knocked out by eventual world champions Spain in
the second round in South Africa, with critics saying Queiroz's
tactics were too defensive.
Off the pitch the coach's tenure was not plain sailing
either. His relationship with the media was tense and in July,
Queiroz said a newspaper interview in which he allegedly
described the federation as "amateurish" was false.
His relationship with the players was also punctuated by
controversy.
Deco slammed Queiroz's tactics after the draw with Ivory
Coast in their World Cup opener and, although the playmaker
later apologised, he did not feature in any remaining games.
In the match against Spain, television cameras caught
Ronaldo criticising one of Queiroz's substitutions, saying it
would not help the team win the game.
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