RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- The Brazilian Football Confederation says a marketing company that pays $1.05 million for the commercial rights to each international friendly match does not have the power to select the team.
The CBF responded Monday to a report in the Estado de S.Paulo newspaper that gave details of a contract with a Cayman Islands-based marketing company. The contract stipulates a 50 percent financial penalty unless top players like Barcelona striker Neymar are on the field - or others of the same ''marketing value.''
The Brazilian soccer body countered and said ''the criteria for selecting the squad for the matches of the Brazilian team are, and always will be, with the coach.