Scolari turns down Brazil coaching offer

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, July 14 (Reuters) Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has turned down an offer from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to take over Brazil's national squad, which he led to the World Cup title in 2002.

A spokesman for Scolari said the tough-talking Brazilian, who is also known as Felipao, or Big Phil in English, had opted to stay in Europe with his family but was yet to decide whether he will stay on with Portugal.

A CBF spokesman confirmed that Scolari had been offered the job but said the confederation had not decided on the future of current coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira. A decision on Parreira's fate should be announced next week, the spokesman said.

Portugal reached the World Cup semi-finals under Scolari, while five-times world champions Brazil were knocked out of the tournament by France in the quarter-finals.

REUTERS AY HS2122