Former Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has made the decision to to take legal action against the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) over his sacking earlier this month.
“I’ve instructed my lawyers to formalise a criminal complaint. There were strong indications of procedural fraud in the various phases of the process that led to my firing by the Portuguese Football Federation,” Queiroz was quoted as saying by Lusa News Agency.
Queiroz was sacked as Portugal coach following a row with anti-doping officials last May ahead of the 2010 World Cup, which eventually led to a one-month ban by the FPF and a six-month ban by the Anti-Doping Committee.
The former Real Madrid coach opted to appeal his bans and the FPF agreed to annul Queiroz’s one-month suspension earlier this week. CAS has now accepted Queiroz’s request to have his six-month ban suspended until his appeal is fully reviewed by the international institution.
“CAS has granted the request filed by Carlos Queiroz to stay the execution of the six-month suspension imposed by the Portuguese anti-doping agency pending the outcome of his appeal,” CAS said in a statement today. “The suspension is therefore temporarily lifted.”
The decision means that Queiroz can now coach clubs or national teams until CAS has reviewed the appeal.
Queiroz is believed to be in the frame for the vacant Ukraine national team’s coaching job.