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Santos fans invade camp Congressmen call on Brazilian chief to step down
BRASILIA (Reuters) -- Congressmen investigating suspected corruption and mismanagement in Brazilian soccer have called on the game's chief Ricardo Teixeira to resign after he failed appear to answer questions because of ill-health. Teixeira, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), sent a signed letter from his doctor saying he could not be subjected to any stress as he had been suffering from heart problems. For the same reason, Teixiera has taken medical leave from his CBF post and is not expected to return until next year. "If Ricardo Teixeira is unable to work for six months, it would be best for him to step down because Brazil is at a decisive stage in the World Cup qualifying campaign," Alvaro Dias, president of the commission of inquiry, said on Wednesday. "For the health of football, it would be best if all the CBF directors resigned." Teixeira, who has run the CBF for 12 years, has been one of the central figures in the two-pronged investigation that has been carried out by commissions of inquiry in both the Senate and the lower house. The commissions of inquiry were set up last year following a public outcry into the alarming decline of Brazilian football, which has been hit by administrative chaos, plummeting attendances and a mass exodus of the top players abroad. Even the famed national team has been affected, slumping to a series of unprecedented defeats at the hands of teams Brazil would in the past have been expected to beat handsomely, such as South Korea, Chile, Paraguay, Honduras, Ecuador and Australia. Bank accounts Brazil have still not guaranteed their place at next year's World Cup and could be forced into a playoff against Australia if they fail to win their last two games in the qualifying tournament early next month. Dias said that during its probe, the Senate's commission of inquiry had investigated 2,000 pages of documents after enacting powers to delve into the bank accounts of the CBF, Teixeira and other Brazilian directors. He said the investigations, whose findings will be included in the final report, had unveiled evidence of poor administration under Teixeira's leadership. Teixeira has come under increasing pressure recently and on Monday former Brazil captain Zico repeated his call on the beleaguered president to step down. The lower house commission ended its probe in June by producing a 700-page report, which recommended that criminal charges be brought against 32 soccer directors and agents, including Teixeira. The report accused Teixeira of 13 different crimes, mainly related to tax evasion and dodging foreign exchange controls. It also claimed he broke CBF rules by paying himself a salary and used the CBF's money to make donations to political campaigns. Angry Santos supporters invade training campRIO DE JANEIRO -- A group of angry Santos supporters broke into the team's training camp, fought with security men and protested against the players and the coach, witnesses said on Wednesday. Around 40 fans were involved in the incident which happened as the players were arriving for a training session on Tuesday. The fans, already frustrated at the once great club's title drought, were protesting at Sunday's 2-0 home defeat by Corinthians. Santos, the best team in the world when Pele played for them in the 1960s, have not won a major trophy since 1984. Players who saw the incident said the fans, carrying banners which demanded the sacking of coach Cabralzinho and several players, let off firecrackers as they forced their way through the gates of the King Pele Training Centre. Some fans managed to get on to the training field itself, where they were chased by more security guards. The situation was brought under control after police arrived. "The fans who do this are not faithful," said striker Viola, one of the main targets of the protest. "The faithful ones respect the professional athletes." Santos, who have employed three coaches in the last three months, are 14th in the Brazilian championship with 28 points from 20 games and struggling to qualify for the quarterfinals. Rotten oranges Defending champions Vasco da Gama have suspended three players, including former Brazil international Jorginho, after club president Eurico Miranda accused them of leading a protest against unpaid wages. Vasco players say the club has not paid them for three months. Some of the younger players say they cannot even afford to pay a bus fare to get to training and have to borrow money from relatives. Midfielder Jorginho, who played in Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team, and defenders Odvan and Paulo Madureira were suspended until the end of the year. Vasco, 18th in the table, face a mass exodus of disgruntled players, with Brazil internationals Juninho Paulista and Romario and veteran Bebeto among those who say they want to leave. Vasco's arch-rivals Flamengo, who are in danger of relegation, continue to suffer from bickering within the squad and veteran coach Mario Zagallo appears unable to control the egos. "It could not be worse," he said. The team faces a break from their relegation battle later Wednesday when they take on Argentina's Independiente in a Copa Mercosur quarterfinal second leg tie. The main protagonists appear to be Yugoslav midfielder Dejan Petkovic and striker Edilson, who were heard to have a furious row on the pitch during Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Gremio. There is also discontent at 11th-placed Sao Paulo, where two full-back Gustavo Nery and defender Rogerio Pinheiro were reinstated on Tuesday. The pair, who continue to claim they have not done anything wrong, were part of a group dubbed the "rotten oranges" who were suspended by coach Nelsinho Batista for indiscipline one week ago. Nelsinho has been the target of abuse from fans in recent weeks. Boca Juniors promise to help out rivalsBUENOS AIRES -- Boca Juniors players have promised to give their all against Argentine championship leaders Racing Club on Thursday, even though a win for the South American champions would help out their arch-rivals River Plate. Racing have a five-point lead over second-placed River with eight games left in the Apertura championship, while fifth-placed Boca are effectively out of the running. "The idea of helping River bothers me a lot but we are professionals and we have to go out and win," said Boca midfielder Clemente Rodriguez. The River players, whose next game is at home to defending champions San Lorenzo on Sunday, will have no qualms about cheering for Boca. "If they score, I will celebrate it because a Boca win will help us," said striker Andres D'Alessandro. Racing, who also face third-placed Gimnasia-La Plata at home on Sunday, are seeking their first domestic title since 1966. The match will also feature the Barros Schelotto twins, Guillermo and Gustavo, on opposing sides for the first time in their careers. "I want to beat Racing, but afterwards I would like Gustavo to win the title," said Boca's Guillermo. The 28-year-olds began their careers together at Gimnasia-La Plata in 1991 before moving to Boca six years later. Guillermo, who has won 10 caps for Argentina, remained at the club while Gustavo moved on to Union, Spanish club Villareal and finally Racing. Boca are concentrating their efforts on the Intercontintental Cup match against European champions Bayern Munich in Tokyo at the end of next month. The Boca-Racing clash has been brought forward from November 25 to accommodate the game in Japan. 'Scorpion' Higuita training with Colombia squadBOGOTA -- Eccentric former international goalkeeper Rene Higuita has been allowed to train with the Colombia squad in preparation for Diego Maradona's testimonial on November 10. The 35-year-old Higuita, who is unofficially retired at an age when many goalkeepers are still at their peak, took part in his first training session in Medellin on Tuesday but refused to speak to reporters. Higuita made his name by taking free kicks, penalties, dribbling past opposing forwards in his own penalty area and often appearing on the halfway line. One of his most famous moments was his "scorpion" save in an international friendly against England at Wembley. But the downside of such risky play was ruthlessly exposed at the 1990 World Cup, when he tried to dribble past Cameroon striker Roger Milla in a second round game. He lost possession and allowed the grinning African to walk the ball into the net for the winning goal. Higuita's most recent comeback attempt ended at Colombian club Atletico Junior in March when he was sacked for repeatedly missing training. Colombia are training for a World Cup qualifier at home to Chile on Nov. 7. They need to win both that game and the following week's match in Paraguay to maintain any chances of reaching the playoff match against Oceania winners Australia. They must also hope that Uruguay, four points above them in fifth place, fail to win either of their last two games.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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