The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) expressed irritation Monday that German Bundesliga team Schalke 04 asked FIFA to ensure its Brazilian star Rafinha does not play again at the Beijing Olympics, dpa reported.
"The CBF is unaware of the matter. The news reached us through the media. We want to be left in peace, at least for a day. One day they criticize our shirt, the next day they talk about the player, I don't know what'll come next," CBF spokesman Rodrigo Paiva told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
Paiva said Schalke had released Rafinha for the Olympics. "He is here with us and has played in two games," against Belgium and against New Zealand, he added.
"The fact is that, officially, the CBF has not been informed of anything," Paiva insisted.
Americo Faria, supervisor of Brazil's Olympic football team, confirmed the CBF had received "absolutely nothing" on the Schalke 04 demands.
"The CBF always abides by the rules established by FIFA, and it will abide by any FIFA decision on the Rafinha case," he added.
Schalke 04 general manager Andreas Mueller said in Gelsenkirchen that the club filed a complaint with football's governing body on Monday, seeking Rafinha's immediate withdrawal from the Olympic tournament.
Mueller said if FIFA does not act, the club will again turn to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
"It is a fundamental issue and we cannot be treated this way," Mueller said.
He said the German club reserved the right to demand "compensation from all the parties involved," - a reference to both the CBF and FIFA.
Although CAS ruled earlier that Schalke was under no obligation to release Rafinha for Olympic duty, the club had said it would allow him to remain in Beijing as long as the CBF took out an insurance policy in case he suffered an injury.
Muller said the CBF had not complied. "It is an intolerable attitude," he added.