Reporters hit back over Scolari clown jibe
Reuters - Sunday 31 October 2010, 02:19
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian reporters
greeted Luis Felipe Scolari by wearing red clown noses on
Sunday when he arrived with his Palmeiras team to play Goias in
a Brazilian championship match.
The journalists were protesting after Scolari called a
reporter a clown at a news conference in midweek when his team
played a match in the Copa Sudamericana, the region's
equivalent to the Europa League.
"He needs to be reminded that we're not here to have fun,
we're also working. Our radio won't interview Big Phil so long
as he doesn't apologise," reporter Ricardo Martins said.
Mid-table Palmeiras beat one-from-bottom Goias 3-2 and are
10 points behind leaders Fluminense.
Scolari, who managed an embarrassed grin at his reception,
sent one of his players to the post-match news conference
preferring not to attend it himself.
He had lost his cool on Thursday after his team were held
1-1 by Atletico Mineiro when he was asked why he had fielded
midfielder Jorge Valdivia, who was substituted after only 18
minutes of the game.
"Go you and interview the doctor," Scolari said. "You lot
are just clowning around and you're one of the biggest clowns,"
he said, gesturing towards one television reporter.
In other league matches, Cruzeiro beat bottom team Gremio
Prudente 2-0 away to join Flu on 57 points with six matches
remaining, although are in second place on goal difference. Flu
beat Gremio 2-0 on Thursday.
Corinthians are third, three points behind with Botafogo,
on 51 after a 2-0 away win over relegation-threatened Atletico
Mineiro, occupying the fourth Libertadores Cup spot.
South American champions Internacional and Santos did their
slim title hopes no good with a 1-1 draw in the southern city
of Porto Alegre after visitors Santos had a first half goal
controversially disallowed. Both are on 49 points.
Brazil teenager Neymar crossed into the box where defender
Edu Dracena header the ball over Inter keeper Renan.
Video replays showed the ball had crossed the line before
defender Nei cleared it with a bicycle-kick but the referee
allowed play to continue.
Santos took the lead 11 minutes from time with a goal by
striker Ze Eduardo but Leandro Damiao equalised with a header
four minutes later.