Brazil's World Cup coach accused of lying about Ronaldo

BRASILIA, Brazil -- Brazil's 1998 World Cup coach lied about the condition of star striker Ronaldo just before his team crashed to defeat in the final, an inquiry has heard.

The allegation by another player, Edmundo, was made to a parliamentary commission investigating a contract between the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and sports wear giant Nike, thought to be worth $400 million.

Team-mate Edmundo said on Thursday that Mario Lobo Zagallo, the national coach for the tournament in France, was not telling the truth when he said he had not been told immediately about Ronaldo’s convulsions the night before the final.

Ronaldo's name was omitted from the team-sheet on the night of the match, only to be hastily added. Ronaldo played but Brazil lost to hosts France 3-0.

Edmundo told the commission in Brasilia that he had called his team-mates and other members of the Brazilian delegation, including Zagallo, when he became aware of Ronaldo's problem.

Ten minutes later, 30 or 40 people were in the room and the corridor leading to Ronaldo's room.

Earlier this week, in a testimony before the commission, the former Brazilian coach had said that he only knew what was happening with Ronaldo three hours later.

Zagallo alleged that he decided to start the match with Edmundo as striker, but changed his mind after he received the results of the medical checks on Ronaldo which showed nothing abnormal.

Ronaldo is also sponsored by Nike and many critics of Zagallo in Brazil accuse the former coach of bowing to pressure to play the star striker.

"We had 160 million Brazilians waiting for a triumph on the field and I, as the coach, would not keep a player like Ronaldo out of the final match when the tests made in a French clinic showed that he was doing well,” said Zagallo.

The inquiry is expected to last several weeks.

Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF)
Nike
Ronaldo offical site

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