Fernando Couto was today selected in the Portugal squad for the Rep of Ireland’s crunch World Cup qualifier on June 2nd despite testing positive for the banned performance enhancing drug nandrolone.
A decision is pending on the future of Couto in the Italian league, however the player will not face disciplinary action at the hands of FIFA until further notice.
Trainer Antonio Oliveira's 22-man squad for games against the Rep of Ireland and Cyprus also includes previously uncapped Nuno Frechaut, a defender who helped new Portuguese champions Boavista to the meanest defensive record in the premiership.
Portugal are currently in second place in Group 2, three points behind Rep of Ireland whom they face four days before they play Cyprus in Lisbon on June 6th.
Sporting Lisbon have provided the largest club contingency, with six players, followed by Boavista, who have just won the northern side its first ever league title, supplying four players.
Goalkeepers: Quim (Braga), Ricardo Pereira (Boavista).
Defenders: Jorge Andrade (Porto), Jorge Costa (Porto), Fernando Couto (Lazio, Italy), Fernando Meira (Benfica), Beto Severo (Sporting), Rui Jorge (Sporting), Litos Magalhaes (Boavista), Nuno Frechaut (Boavista).
Midfielders: Luis Figo (Real Madrid), Sergio Conceicao (Parma), Rui Costa (Fiorentina, Italy), Paulo Bento (Sporting), Pedro Barbosa (Sporting), Nuno Capucho (Porto), Armando Petit (Boavista).
Forwards: Nuno Gomes (Fiorentina), Pedro Pauleta (Bordeaux), Luis Boa Morte (Fulham), Joao Pinto (Sporting), Sa Pinto (Sporting).
Reuters