Former Brazil coach Wanderley Luxemburgo, sacked in September after a run of poor results and amid allegations of improper conduct, amassed a fortune incompatible with his profession, a Congressional commission of inquiry into Brazilian soccer said yesterday.
Politicians grilled the disgraced coach for more than five hours and told him they could not understand how he had received the equivalent of more than $9 million during the last five years.
"What is the origin of your income?" asked Senator Alvaro Dias, president of the commission in the Senate. "I think this deserves an explanation."
Luxemburgo was also asked about the influence of sponsors in the Brazilian national team, the fact that he had 30 different bank accounts in the last five years and why he had used a fake birth certificate - which stated that he was three years younger than he really is - for most of his career.
Using special powers which allow it to investigate an individual's bank accounts, the inquiry confronted Luxemburgo with his financial dealings.
Senator Geraldo Althoff, the inquiry secretary, said that Luxemburgo had received credits to his bank accounts totalling $9,554,353 between 1995 and 1999. But only $4,316,552 had been declared to Brazil's inland revenue, he said.
"His earnings as a soccer coach are not compatible with this startling financial movement over the last years," said Dias.
Luxemburgo said he had received income from property and car sales but Dias described the explanation as unsatisfactory, adding that the additional income still did not explain how he had become so wealthy.
Luxemburgo was asked to justify numerous transactions over the last few years as his personal finances were opened to public viewing in a session broadcast nationwide on cable television.
The coach denied that sportswear giants Nike had intefered in the running of the national team during his two years in charge. "Nike never interfered in my work," he said.
He also denied accusations made by former business associate Renata Alves that he had taken commissions on transfers earlier in his career.
