Brazil players free to frequent nightspots, says coach

WEGGIS, Switzerland, June 1: Brazil's players are free to frequent nightspots on their days off, the world champions' coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said today.

Parreira said there was nothing wrong with the behaviour of Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Emerson, who were photographed in a bar by a Swiss newspaper late on Tuesday after their friendly against an FC Lucerne Select.

''There's nothing to say about a day off,'' Parreira told reporters. ''A day off is a day off. They can do what they want as long as they're back in the hotel at the stipulated time.'' ''I've never worried about this before and I'm not going to worry about it now as long as it's within the limits.'' The photographs showed Ronaldo improvising as a disc-jockey and Roberto Carlos and Emerson posing with fans.

Roberto Carlos said: ''All I did was to go out with some friends, nothing more than that. We were happy with the win,'' he said after Brazil romped to an 8-0 victory.

Parreira paid tribute to midfielder Edmilson, who was ruled out of the World Cup on Wednesday due to an injury to his right knee.

Edmilson, who played in the winning World Cup 2002 team, returned to the side last November following a seven-month layoff with an injury to the same knee.

''The technical staff had to make a decision and we did,'' said Parreira. ''It wasn't pleasant but we had to face it.'' ''It's very sad because he's a born winner, he had been playing well for Barcelona, he won the Spanish championship this year and the Champions League.

''The players are sorry because he's a world champion and he has an imposing presence and personality.'' The coach declined to explain why he chose Sao Paulo midfielder Mineiro as Brazil's replacement.

''It was the technical staff's decision,'' he said. ''No further explanation.''

Reuters