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Portugal to launch 'criminal inquiry' into Scolari Brazil boss Scolari faces tax fraud inquiry in Portugal
(about 9 hours later)
The coach of Brazil's national football team, Luiz Felipe Scolari, is to face a criminal investigation, reports from Portugal say, as he denies tax evasion. A criminal case has been opened in Portugal against Brazil's football coach Luiz Felipe Scolari weeks before Brazil hosts the World Cup.
Mr Scolari, 65, coached Portugal's national team from 2003 to 2008. The allegations are believed to be connected to his time there. He has been named as a formal suspect in a tax fraud investigation but he has not been arrested or charged.
Mr Scolari, 65, was Portugal's head coach from 2003 to 2008. The case is thought to be linked to his time there.
In a statement, the Brazilian said he had "always declared my earnings in all the countries I worked in".In a statement, the Brazilian said he had "always declared my earnings in all the countries I worked in".
The allegations come less than a month before the start of the World Cup.
The attorney general's office in Portugal confirmed a criminal investigation had been opened but gave no further details, the Associated Press news agency said.
"I am absolutely convinced of the correctness of my declarations. If there is something wrong, it is not of my doing," Mr Scolari's statement reads."I am absolutely convinced of the correctness of my declarations. If there is something wrong, it is not of my doing," Mr Scolari's statement reads.
The attorney general's office in Portugal confirmed the investigation, which is being carried out by the Central Department for Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions.
Mr Scolari had been named an "arguido" (suspect), a statement said, as part of an investigation into events between 2003 and 2008 that concerned "a possible breach of tax regulations".
FundsFunds
According to Dutch and Portuguese media reports, the investigation focuses on payments of 7.4m euros ($10m; £6m) made to Mr Scolari during his time as Portugal coach.According to Dutch and Portuguese media reports, the investigation focuses on payments of 7.4m euros ($10m; £6m) made to Mr Scolari during his time as Portugal coach.
Dutch daily Het Financieele Dagblad published a document which alleges that Mr Scolari did not declare the income - which is said to stem from image rights - and that the funds were transferred to an account in Miami. Dutch daily Het Financieele Dagblad published a document which alleges that Mr Scolari did not declare the income, which is said to stem from image rights.
Investigators in Portugal are reported to have asked for information about who the people involved in the transactions are. The newspaper said that Mr Scolari transferred money through companies based in the Bahamas and other tax havens to a bank account in Miami.
Portugal has asked US authorities for assistance in the inquiry and has also sent requests to Britain, the Netherlands and Brazil.
Mr Scolari said he hoped "justice gets to the bottom of the facts".Mr Scolari said he hoped "justice gets to the bottom of the facts".
He led his Brazil team to victory in the 2002 World Cup and last week announced his squad for the 2014 World Cup due to start in Brazil on 12 June. He led Brazil to victory in the 2002 World Cup and last week announced his squad for the 2014 World Cup due to start in Brazil on 12 June.
As well as managing Brazil and Portugal, Mr Scolari has also coached in Japan and the Middle East and was boss of Premier League club Chelsea between 2008-09.
Portugal's government has set up special investigative teams and increased penalties in an effort to crack down on tax evasion.
The country needed a bailout of 78bn euros ($107bn/£64bn) in 2011 after high debts pushed it to the brink of bankruptcy.