Carlos Queiroz alleged to have assaulted commentator Jorge Baptista
• Portugal coach claims incident is 'already in the past'
• 'I will continue to say my opinions' says Baptista
Press Association guardian.co.uk, Sunday 7 February 2010 00.38 GMT
Carlos Queiroz said there was 'an exchange of bitter words and a bit of shoving' between him and Jorge Baptista. Photograph: Bob Strong/Reuters
The Portugal coach, Carlos Queiroz, has played down reports that he assaulted the sports commentator Jorge Baptista at Lisbon airport.
The incident took place in the VIP room at Portela airport on Saturday, where both were waiting to fly to Poland for Sunday's Euro 2012 draw. Reports suggest passengers had to separate Queiroz and Baptista but the former Manchester United assistant played down the incident.
"It was an exchange of bitter words and a bit of shoving," Queiroz told the Portuguese radio station TSF. "We have known each other for over 20 years and it's already in the past."
However, Baptista claims it was more serious.
He told the radio station Antena 1: "I was having breakfast and talking to a Uefa colleague on the phone. The national coach came and started provoking me and made a series of not very nice declarations. I responded and then he came right up to me and assaulted me. I was caught by surprise and tried to react."
Baptista does not plan to press charges, though. "It's not worth it," he said. "I've known him for 20 years and, for me, things are resolved.
"But I will continue to be the same commentator and say my opinions, whether he likes it or not. If every time the coach does not like an opinion he starts a physical fight, we'd all be fighting every day."
• Portugal coach claims incident is 'already in the past'
• 'I will continue to say my opinions' says Baptista
Press Association guardian.co.uk, Sunday 7 February 2010 00.38 GMT
Carlos Queiroz said there was 'an exchange of bitter words and a bit of shoving' between him and Jorge Baptista. Photograph: Bob Strong/Reuters
The Portugal coach, Carlos Queiroz, has played down reports that he assaulted the sports commentator Jorge Baptista at Lisbon airport.
The incident took place in the VIP room at Portela airport on Saturday, where both were waiting to fly to Poland for Sunday's Euro 2012 draw. Reports suggest passengers had to separate Queiroz and Baptista but the former Manchester United assistant played down the incident.
"It was an exchange of bitter words and a bit of shoving," Queiroz told the Portuguese radio station TSF. "We have known each other for over 20 years and it's already in the past."
However, Baptista claims it was more serious.
He told the radio station Antena 1: "I was having breakfast and talking to a Uefa colleague on the phone. The national coach came and started provoking me and made a series of not very nice declarations. I responded and then he came right up to me and assaulted me. I was caught by surprise and tried to react."
Baptista does not plan to press charges, though. "It's not worth it," he said. "I've known him for 20 years and, for me, things are resolved.
"But I will continue to be the same commentator and say my opinions, whether he likes it or not. If every time the coach does not like an opinion he starts a physical fight, we'd all be fighting every day."