By ESPNsoccernet staff
Carlos Queiroz was unhappy with his six-month
ban
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has been dismissed
following the country's poor start to Euro 2012 qualifying and the
coach's own lengthy suspension for disciplinary
reaons.
Queiroz, who had two years remaining on his contract, was banned
from coaching the national side for six months by Portugal's Sport
Institute after he was adjudged to have disrupted a drugs test
prior to the World Cup finals.
The Portuguese Football Federation had already suspended the
former Manchester United assistant manager for a month due to his
use of foul language towards testers in the same incident.
Queiroz said he would appeal the six-month sanction but in his
absence, Portugal could only draw 4-4 at home to Cyprus and lose
1-0 to Norway on Tuesday to start their Euro 2012 qualifying
campaign in unimpressive fashion.
Portugal were also eliminated in the second round of the World
Cup when losing 1-0 to Spain and failed to score in three of their
four games in South Africa.
A federation statement read: "Given the recent events, and after
reviewing the current situation concerning the national coach, the
directorate of the FPF decided unanimously [to end] the contract
with the national coach, Carlos Queiroz, with immediate effect.
This decision was communicated to Carlos Queiroz.
"[The FPF will] start immediately contacts and talks with a view
to hiring a technician who performs the functions of national coach
in time to prepare and lead the team in the forthcoming qualifying
matches for Euro 2012."
Queiroz was appointed as Luiz Felipe Scolari's replacement in
July 2008, taking charge for the World Cup qualifying campaign.
After struggling in the early stages the country beat
Bosnia-Herzegovina in a play-off.
Queiroz, who has a spell as Real Madrid coach on his CV, was
previously Portugal boss between the years of 1991 and 1994.