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MV Joao Saldanha leaving interview room
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CU National Sports Conference Pres. Senghor Joao Havelange in car
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MV Players and other in room
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MV Zagalo with Havelange
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CU Zagalo PAN TO Havelange
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MV Both amidst players seated
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CU Pele
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MV Havelange being with new coach
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MV Players listening
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CU New coach being interviewed
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Initials JB/VS/CT/BJ


SPORT: SOCCER

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: With only 11 weeks to the world Cup finals in Mexico, Brazil has sacked the manager of its cup squad
Joao Saldanha, manager for more than a year, has been replaced by former Brazil world cup player, 39-year-old Mario Zagalo.

Rumblings began in the football technical committee -- which supervises and training and selection of Brazil's team-- after Argentina beat Brazil two weeks ago.

They flared up on Monday (March 16) when committee chairman, Antonio Do Passo, who recommended Saldanha for the manager's job, submitted his resignation.

He claimed that Zaldanha lacked the emotional balance for the post and was not following the schedule the committee had drawn up for the squad.

The committee refused to accept his resignation and on Tuesday (March 17)the National sports Confederation dissolved the committee and appointed Do Passo to form a new one.

Saldanha, one of the first to leave the confederation meeting, told reporters ...I am fired.

Later, Zagalo was appointed to coach the squad. A member of Brazil's World Cup winning teams in 1958 and 1962, he has been coaching the Rio de Janeiro team Botafogo for three years. One of his first moves was to sack five players from the squad.

The 52 year old Saldanha is a flamboyant character who once fought a duel with a player who is been in jail for political activities and who has been a war correspondent and sports commentator. Brazil hoped he would take their team to a third World Cup victory ......and they were favourites to win in Mexico until this trouble broke out.