LISBON, Portugal -- Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is under criminal investigation in Portugal for suspected tax fraud and money laundering, according to U.
Steven Jackson Jersey .S. court documents obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. Portuguese tax authorities suspect 7.4 million euros ($10.1 million) that was transferred from Portugal to a bank in Miami between 2003 and 2008, when Scolari was coach of Portugals national team, were local income that the Brazilian did not declare. A U.S. district judge last week granted Portugals request for a series of Miami bank accounts to be examined, Florida court documents show. An assistant U.S. attorney was placed in charge of collecting the evidence. Taxe fraud and money laundering together carry a maximum penalty of 17 years in prison in Portugal, and the investigation is an unwelcome distraction for the Brazil coach as his country prepares to host the World Cup. The 65-year-old Scolari denied any wrongdoing after the court documents were first reported Monday by OffshoreAlert, a Florida-based site specializing in fraud investigations. "I have correctly filed all my tax returns. In all the countries where Ive worked, Ive always declared my income," Scolari said in a statement sent to the AP in Sao Paulo late Tuesday. "If anything is wrong, its not my fault. I hope justice gets to the bottom of the facts." Officials at the Portuguese Football Federation, which employed Scolari as national team coach, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. FIFA had no comment on the investigation. FIFAs code of ethics can be applied to conduct "that damages the integrity and reputation of football and in particular to illegal, immoral and unethical behaviour." Sanctions for breaching the code range from a warning to a ban from any football-related activity. Portuguese investigators want to know who were the "real beneficiaries" of numerous payments made into the Miami accounts over the six-year period. The money went to accounts held by Netherlands-based Flamboyant Sports C.V., London-based Chaterella Investors Limited and Taliston Financial Corp., a British Virgin Islands company, according to prosecutors. Those companies owned, at various times, non-exclusive rights to the use of Scolaris name, image and voice, they say. Transfers were also made to Miami accounts in the name of Scolari himself and of his son Leonardo. The investigators suspect Scolari used those companies and bank accounts to hide income from the Portuguese tax authorities. Portuguese investigators sent their initial request for assistance to the U.S. Justice Department in Washington in late 2012. It was not clear why the request was submitted to a judge only last week. The judge endorsed the request last Thursday. The Portuguese attorney generals office acknowledged in an email to the AP that the Department for Criminal Investigation and Prosecution has opened an inquiry into Scolari, but it provided no further details. In Portugal, ongoing investigations are subject to a judicial secrecy law which forbids the release of details of the case. Scolari, who is Brazilian, led his countrys national team to the World Cup title in 2002. He will again coach the Brazilian team at this years World Cup. He has also coached in Japan and the Middle East. He was coach of Premier League club Chelsea between 2008-09. Scolari was Portugals most successful national team coach. He guided the Portuguese to the final of the 2004 European Championship and to the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup. Along the way, he gave Cristiano Ronaldo his national team debut and made him captain. To help pay the salary of a World Cup-winning coach -- and to prevent him from being poached by other clubs and countries which offered him contracts, including England -- the Portuguese federation signed multimillion-dollar sponsorship deals, including with Nike and two Portuguese banks. Scolari, whose salary in Portugal was never made public, appeared in advertising campaigns. Portugals government has set up special investigative teams and increased penalties in an effort to crack down on tax evasion. The country needed a 78 billion euro ($107 billion) bailout in 2011 after high debts pushed it to the brink of bankruptcy. In neighbouring Spain, where authorities have also targeted tax evaders, officials have brought tax fraud charges against Lionel Messi and his club, Barcelona. ------ AP Sports Writers Tales Azzoni in Sao Paulo and Graham Dunbar in Geneva, and Associated Press writers Alan Clendenning in Madrid, Spain, and Curt Anderson in Miami contributed to this report.
Corey Peters Red Jersey . It all paid off Friday night, when the Toronto right-hander earned his first victory since 2008 with an effective and emotional effort at Baltimore. McGowan allowed five hits over 6 1-3 innings, and the Blue Jays used two unearned runs to beat Chris Tillman and the Orioles 2-0.
Dwight Lowery Black Jersey . - Inbee Park is back defending her No. PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Vancouver Whitecaps can finally say theyve beaten their archrivals in Major League Soccer. Pedro Morales scored twice on penalty kicks as Vancouver defeated Portland 4-3 on Sunday for the Whitecaps first win against the Timbers since both teams entered the league in 2011. Erik Hurtado and Jordan Harvey also scored for the Whitecaps (5-2-5), who led 4-1 but had to fend off a late rally by the Timbers to stay unbeaten in five straight games. Portland put a scare into the Whitecaps with goals in the 77th and 86th minutes but Vancouvers offence was too much for the Timbers to handle, according to Hurtado. "No matter what were going to attack," he said. "Whether were at home, whether were away, whether were down, whether were up, were going to try to score goals. Thats the kind of team we are." Maximiliano Urruti, Gaston Fernandez and Will Johnson scored for Portland (3-4-7), which had its 22-game unbeaten run at home end. Urruti scored an impressive opener after just three minutes and Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted saved a second goal in the first 10 minutes with a sprawling dive on a goal-bound Johnson shot moments later. In the 15th minute the games momentum shifted as Hurtado drew a penalty against Portland defender Jack Jewsbury following a darting run into the box. Morales converted in the 16th minute, drawing the game even against the run of play. Vancouver was awarded a second penalty nine minutes later when Jorge Villafana tackled Sebastian Fernandez inside the box. Kekuta Mannehs run sparked the play but the crowd didnt appreciate the call for a second consecutive spot kick. Morales converted again, increasing his team-leading goal total to five. The Whitecaps were lucky not to concede a penalty of their own when Diego Valeri was tackled from behind in the box but referee Kevin Stott withheld his whistle and play continued despite the protests of Portland coach Caleb Porter. Hurtado concluded his strong first half by scoring a rebounded goal after a sharp cross from Morales deep in injury time.
Harry Douglas Red Jersey. Donovan Ricketts saved Hurtados initial shot but the ricochet deflected off of the Portland natives knee and bounced over the line for a 3-1 advantage. Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson praised the play of Hurtado, who grew up in the Portland suburbs and played for the Timbers under-23 team before being drafted by the Whitecaps in 2013. "Hes been superb," said Robinson. "When you (play in front of family and friends) as a young player, you try to go away from the things that youre good at. He didnt do that. I thought his movement was excellent and he got his reward with the goal." Robinson replaced Manneh with Russell Teibert to open the second half as Vancouver downshifted to more comfortably manage the expected Portland attack. Yet it was the Whitecaps who struck first after the break with Morales crossing to left back Harvey, who fired into the bottom right corner for a 4-1 advantage in the 49th minute. Portland changed its offensive plan by inserting forwards Fanendo Adi and Fernandez for the ineffective Steve Zakuani and Urruti, respectively, but the visitors held their ground for much of the second half. Finally, Fernandez headed in a Valeri cross to cut the deficit to two goals in the 77th minute. Ousted then dove to save an Adi shot in the 84th minute but was helpless when Adi juggled the ball and flicked it to Johnson, who hammered home Portlands third in the 86th. The Whitecaps withstood a barrage of late pressure thanks to key saves from Ousted and strong performances from defenders Jay DeMerit and Andy OBrien. After the game, Robinson was still focused on his teams effective attack. "If youd said to me before the game, would I take a 4-3, I wouldve," he said. "I know were a team that can score goals. I said all along Id rather win 4-3 than 1-0." Vancouver next travels to Philadelphia to play the Union on Saturday. ' ' '