NYON - European football federation Uefa began an investigation yesterday into an incident involving Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after a Euro 2008 qualifying match.
NYON - European football federation Uefa began an investigation yesterday into an incident involving Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after a Euro 2008 qualifying match.
Uefa said the investigation will focus on the incident involving Scolari and the Serbia player Ivica Dragutinovic after Wednesday's game in Lisbon. Portugal were held 1-1 in the Group A match after a late equalizer from Branislav Ivanovic cancelled out Portugal's 11th-minute goal by by Simao.
Portuguese sports daily A Bola published a front page photo of Scolari apparently throwing a punch at Dragutinovic. But the Brazilian coach denied an assault.
"I was defending [Ricardo] Quaresma. He [Dragutinovic] appeared in front of me but I did not touch him," Scolari was reported saying. "He [Dragutinovic] was going to hit Quaresma and I defended him. If he says that I touched him he's lying.
"All this happened when Quaresma was going towards the referee and the Serbian player blocked his way. If I have to answer to Uefa I will."
The result leaves Portugal third in the group, four points behind leaders Poland, with Serbia a point further back in fourth. - Sapa-DPA