Brazil denied on Tuesday the players had formed a pact with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari to keep Romario out the squad and said speculation that the veteran had been the victim of a soft drinks war was also untrue.

The comments came as the controversy over Romario, who has not been picked by his country since last July despite excellent perfor-

mances for his club Vasco da Gama, refused to go away.

Technical director Antonio Lopes dismissed a report published by the sports daily Lance, which claimed the players were resentful of Romario's demands for special treatment and held a meeting with Scolari asking for him to be excluded.

"There has never been a meeting in this respect, the players have never made a pact with Felipao (Scolari) for Romario not to be picked," said Lopes. "It's not true."

Scolari then stepped in to describe as "lies" speculation that Romario had been the victim of a marketing battle between rival soft drinks companies.

"I pick the team on a technical and tactical basis. Anyone who says that the sponsors decide whether a player is picked is lying. It's one of the biggest untruths I have ever heard."

Brazil's national team is sponsored by Ambev, the manufacturers of a fizzy drink made from Guarana, an Amazonian fruit.

Romario has a personal contract with Coca-Cola, who are arch-rivals of Ambev and make their own version of the same drink.

The 36-year-old striker spearheaded the Brazil team which won the 1994 World Cup when he scored five goals in the tournament but he missed out on France 98 because of a niggling calf muscle injury.

Romario, who enjoys enormous public support, was axed from Brazil squad four years ago in tears only

days before the competition was due to start and has made it clear that he desperately wants a final stab at the world title.

On Monday, Scolari gave a radio interview in which he hinted that Romario's record for indiscipline was instrumental in keeping him out of the team.

"He's a player of great quality. I don't just observe what happens on the pitch," said Scolari. "Off-field behaviour is also very important."

On Tuesday, Scolari refused to elaborate on the interview but said Romario had been left out for "tactical and technical reasons."

The man known as Big Phil praised Vanderlei Luxemburgo, one of his predecessors, for also refusing to bow to popular pressure over Romario.

Luxemburgo refused to take Romario to the Sydney Olympics as an over-age player and was sacked

after Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Cameroon.

Later, Luxemburgo admitted that he had been victim of a media campaign which began when he left Romario at home.

"I applaud Vanderlei Luxemburgo for having the personality to stand by his convictions," said Scolari.

"He should be congratulated for this, not crucified. In any case, I don't think it's possible for me to get any more criticism that I'm receiving at the moment."

Scolari on Tuesday named the foreign-based players for Brazil's

next warm-up match away to Portugal on April 17.

Sporting Lisbon striker Jardel, who has scored 33 goals in the Portuguese championship this season, was again left out as Scolari picked the same "foreigners" who were in the squad for last week's 1-0 win over Yugoslavia.

He will name the home-based players next Tuesday but Romario is given little chance of being included.

Meanwhile, Barcelona's Rivaldo, out injured for Brazil's 1-0 win over Yugoslavia last Wednesday, returns to the squad for the Portugal game.

Rivaldo, who missed the Yugoslavia match with severely twisted left ankle, is back in action, according to team doctor Jose Luiz Runco.