Pele expects heated tie after racism row

Pele believes June's World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires between Argentina and Brazil could boil over after Brazilian police arrested an Argentine player on the field last week for alleged racist insults.

Quilmes defender Leandro Desabato was held in custody for 40 hours on charges of slander aggravated by racism after a first-half incident with striker Grafite, sent off for retaliation during Sao Paulo's 3-1 win in a Libertadores Cup match.

"There's always been a big rivalry between Brazil and Argentina and you can imagine what it'll be like now," Pele told the Estado news agency yesterday.

"Obviously, it's not going to be a tranquil game but it's going to be great to play in. It's a game I'd like to play in. You can be sure that the referees and FIFA will have to take precautions because it could be a dangerous match."

Pele said that when he was a player he frequently heard insults referring to his colour.

"I heard all sorts of things which I can't repeat here.

"But it was something which happened on the field. I don't know if we should understand it as racism or provocation," he said.

"To win away to Argentina, after they had provoked me, gave me enormous happiness.

"Maybe (the Desabato incident) has been good for putting a lid on it (insults on the pitch). But it's not going to stop. In the heat of the dispute, players are going to keep saying things.

"And I remember that even Brazilian players insulted me."