Football
ESPN staff 9y

Brazil coach Dunga apologises for controversial comments

Just hours before Brazil's Copa America quarterfinal against Paraguay, coach Carlos Dunga has apologised for controversial comments regarding people of African descent.

"I want to apologise to all those who could have felt offended with my comment about Afro-descendants," Dunga said in a brief statement published on the Brazilian FA website. "The way I expressed myself does not reflect my feelings or opinions."

On Friday, Dunga had been asked whether criticism of his current squad compared to that which was received by Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning team, of which he was captain.

"Everything we did was bad," he said, referring to criticism of his 1994 squad. "I even think I am an Afro-descendant because I get hit so much. People look at me and think: 'I'll have a go at him.'"

Dunga, 51, is currently in his second spell in charge of Brazil, having previously led the Selecao from 2006-2010. Brazil's last tournament came during that period at the 2007 Copa America.

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