PORTUGAL'S soccer coach Artur Jorge was attacked and knocked to the ground yesterday by Sporting striker Ricardo Sa Pinto apparently because the player was angry at being dropped from the national squad.

Witnesses said that Sa Pinto turned up at the Lisbon training ground, where the national team was preparing for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in Belfast, and demanded to speak to the trainer.

Carlos Moia, a director of Lisbon's Benfica club who was present at the ground, told TSF radio that Sa Pinto then struck Jorge, knocking him down,

Jorge, who appeared unhurt in the attack, said later that the incident would have no effect on the preparation of the team which left for Belfast yesterday.

The exclusion of the volatile Sa Pinto was one of the surprises in the 20 man squad named by Jorge for the World Cup game.

The reason was given for the decision to drop the striker, who has played 21 times for Portugal.