Controversy in Brazil

Team, coach abused by fans on return. Coach refutes reports he is out of a job.

By Compiled from Times wires

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Wanderley Luxemburgo insisted he remained in charge of Brazil's national team after fans hurled abuse at the coach and his Olympic team on their arrival at the Sao Paulo airport.

Luxemburgo dismissed suggestions he had been fired after Brazil's failure to progress beyond the Olympic quarterfinals and said he would be in charge for a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Oct. 8.

The influential O Globo newspaper reported that Cruzeiro's Luiz Felipe Scolari has already been offered the job and an announcement would be made Friday.

The Globo report said Brazilian Football Confederation president Ricardo Teixeira had sent a message from Sydney that Scolari should be offered the job.

Luxemburgo said he expected to hold talks with Teixeira next week but was adamant that he remained in charge.

Luxemburgo was under intense pressure to win the Olympic title after Brazil's indifferent start to its World Cup campaign. But his team crashed to a 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Cameroon, which played the match with nine men.

Cameroon advanced to the gold medal game against Spain, which was played late Friday.

Brazil fans also were livid at Luxemburgo's refusal to use overage players at the Olympics. (The tournament is for players younger than 23, but each team is allowed to have three older players.) Many fans chanted the name of veteran striker Romario at the airport.

Scolari, known by his nickname "Big Phil," is one of the most colorful coaches in Brazil's domestic league. He was signed by Cruzeiro this year after highly successful spells at Gremio and Palmeiras.