RIO DE JANEIRO. Aug 7: FIFA president Joao Havelange threatened on Wednesday to expel Brazil from world soccer’s governing body — and from the World Cup — if a bill drawn up by Sports Minister Pele becomes law, reports Reuter.

In an interview with the Jornal do Brasil daily newspaper. Havelange said: Tf this bill is approved, there will be no alternative. The FIFA committees will have a meeting and expel Brazil, who will not be able to take part in the World Cup as a result."

Pele's new bill, presented to President Fernando Henrique Cardoso on Tuesday, proposes incentives for clubs that become publicly traded compa-tors more accountable and to turning all players into free agents within two years.

It also proposes taking control of disciplinary tribunals and refereeing away from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and handing them to independent bodies.

"FIFA statutes say that referees have to be subordinated to the (national) associations, just as do disciplinary tribunals.'' Havelange said.

The CBF has been a member of FIFA for more than 80 years, always respecting its statutes and rules. It's the same with all the other affiliated associa-

country turning against the entity (over) which I preside."

The CBF, whose president Is Havelange's son-in-law Ricardo Teixeira, has been hugely criticised in Brazil recently for its running of the domestic game.

There was outrage in June

tions. Anyone who does not agree can leave. But they won't get a game.

"It s strange that the (sports) ministry should turn against an institution that is being run in an efficient and modern way.'" he was quoted as saying, referring to the CBF. "I'm respected in the entire world and now I see the government of my

when Teixeira reinstated two clubs — Fluminense and Bragamtomp — who had been relegated from the First Division of the national championship last year. As a result the bloated tournament now has 26 teams.

Teixeira, who has been CBF president since 1989. also reinstated Atletico Paranaense, who were suspended for a year in May in the wake of a corruption scandal. Although Teixeira himself was not incriminated in the scandal, he was widely criticised for his handling of the affair.

Pele and Havelange have been at loggerheads before. In 1993 when the legendary former player said that corruption existed within the CBF. as a result. Havelange withdrew an invitation for Pele to take part in the draw for the 1994 World Cup in Las Vegas.

The current conflict may be solved by the Inertia of the Brazilian Congress.

Bills, which have to negotiate a huge number of committees, can take years to get through an Institution notorious for the poor attendance records of its members.

Even when bills pass, the number of amendments is often huge and can make them unrecognisable from the original.

Pictures of an almost deserted hall are common in the Brazilian media, especially before and after weekends and public holiday.