Oliveira dismissed by Portugal

Portugal have sacked coach António Oliveira because of the team's disappointing performance at the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals.

Two defeats
The coach, who had offered to resign last week, failed to guide Portugal out of Group D at Korea/Japan after his side were beaten by the United States and Korean Republic. Prior to the finals, Portugal had been tipped as one of the favourites to win the competition.

'Friendly annulment'
Portuguese Football Federation president Dr Gilberto Parca Madail said he had sent a fax to Oliveira asking for a "friendly annulment" of his contract, set to run through the UEFA European Championship in 2004. "The soccer federation found that the conditions do not exist for him to remain in his job," Madail said. He added that he had not received a response to the fax but believed Oliveira was out of the country.

Elections to come
It is not yet known who will replace Oliveira but Madail said Portugal's next coach would be picked by a new federation leadership, following forthcoming elections. Federation vice-president Antonio Boronha submitted his resignation last week.