Portugal slam Chelsea announcement

Portugal criticised Chelsea on Friday for not advising them they would announce the appointment of coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as their manager in the middle of Euro 2008.

Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Gilberto Madail rejected suggestions, however, that Portugal's Neuchatel hotel had become a market-place during the tournament, distracting the team from their title bid.

"The moment of the announcement of (Scolari's) exit was not the happiest but it was exclusively down to the club that contracted him," Madail told a news conference the day after Portugal's 3-2 quarter-final defeat by Germany in Basel.

"When we came to the European (Championship) I was already absolutely certain Luiz Felipe Scolari would leave. It's a pity Chelsea did not take care to advise the FPF the timing of their announcement that they were contracting him."

The Scolari announcement followed the controversy over winger Cristiano Ronaldo's club future with Manchester United or Real Madrid and increased suggestions of distraction in the squad.

Madail, quoted on the FPF Web site (www.fpf.pt), rejected the suggestion that the national team or the FPF had held any kind of auction during the tournament.

"There wasn't any businessman, or anyone connected to one, who stayed at the national team's hotel during the European Championship," he said.

"But we're not going to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. Nowadays contracts are discussed at a distance and everyone has access to a panoply of new technology that makes contacting (people) much easier."