'It was a misunderstanding because I didn't say anything like this. When somebody tells me something like this, I say: 'Bring me the tape,' Pele said. --PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
RIO DE JANEIRO - PELE apparently backtracked on comments that Brazilian football stars Robinho and Ronaldo have had drug problems, saying on Wednesday his comments were misinterpreted by the press.
On Tuesday, Robinho threatened Pele with legal action.
Speaking last week at a tourism business conference Pele said: 'It's unfair to talk of drugs in football just because of one or two cases, as happened with Ronaldo and Robinho, who had that problem.'
An unnamed spokesman for Pele told the Jornal do Brasil newspaper on Wednesday that Pele was questioned about general problems football players had faced.
While his quote seemed to connect Robinho and Ronaldo - along with Diego Maradona - to past drug use, the spokesman said it was not Pele's intention.
Instead, the spokesman said Pele was referring to the sexual assault allegations Robinho faces in England and an encounter Ronaldo had last year with three cross-dressing transvestites in Rio.
'It was a misunderstanding because I didn't say anything like this. When somebody tells me something like this, I say: 'Bring me the tape,' Pele said. -- AP
