RIO DE JANEIRO, Reuter: Aserious row between club officials and the football association (CBF) rocked Brazilian soccer tonight as a depleted national squad left for London and the start of a tour of Europe and Israel.
Sao Paulo President Carlos Miguel Aidar accused the CBF of holding his club’s players under House arrest and threatened to seek police help in stopping them joining the squad as a simmering row over whether clubs are obliged to release players for friendly tours boiled over.
A Squad of only 17 finally left for London with National Team Coach Alberto Silva. Three more players one squad member and two replacements will fly out tomorrow to make up the full complement of 20, CBF President Octavio Pinto Guimaraes said:
Earlier today Silva was forced to drop three flamengo players goalkeeper Ze Carlos, defender Jorginho and striker Bebeto after officials of the Rio Club insisted they did not have to release players for the tour.
He then called up Vasco Da Gama’s reserve goalkeeper Regis, Fluminense’s defender Eduardo and striker Rai, a younger brother of retired star Socrates, who plays for Botafogo of Ribeirao Preto, to replace them.
But Fluminense President Fabio Egypid he would not authorize Eduardo to join the team and the defender was one of those missing when the squad took off for London.
Aidar threatened to call in police to stop his club’s players Muller, Silas, and Nelsinho from leaying for London with the squad unless the CBF agreed to release at least striker Muller, as he said they had! promised.
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