Matthaeus urged to clear dues

Sao Paulo:

Atletico Paranaense said former coach Lothar Matthaeus left the club without paying almost $6,000 in telephone bills. Matthaeus, who captained Germany to the 1990 World Cup title, resigned from the Brazilian club on March 20 citing "personal reasons of great urgency". On Friday, Atletico said the coach, who had spent less than three months on the job, made phone calls that totalled over 13,000 reals ($5,915). The club posted the phone bills on its website, saying "Matthaeus was responsible for paying them". The unpaid bills were "the first reasons why coach Matthaeus abandoned Atletico," the club said in a brief statement. Matthaeus, who signed with Atletico on January 11 after leaving the Hungary national team, led the 2001 Brazilian champion to seven wins and one loss in 10 matches. The 44-year-old played a national record 150 matches for Germany. He was the 1990 European Player of the Year, and the 1991 FIFA World Player of the Year. (AP)