The Mozambican authorities have arrested the Portuguese national coach Alberto Lário, a figure who has been a reference for new generations of athletics in Mozambique, the coach himself told Lusa on Wednesday from the police station.

Alberto Lário was arrested early Tuesday afternoon on the Continuadores Park runway by three officers, one of them from the Mozambique Migration Service, who claimed there were irregularities in his documentation.

"They claim it is an issue related to my residence permit document (DIRE), but I have had an application for acquisition of nationality pending for over six years," the coach explained by phone from the police station.

According to Alberto Lário, the case is already being discussed at the ministerial level, but if it is not definitively solved he says he will leave the country.

"If this doesn't get solved definitively, I'm leaving. What else can be done," questioned the coach, noting that he fears only for having to abandon the work he has been developing with young Mozambican athletes for years.

"We were all shocked when they detained him, and if their idea is to deport him to Portugal, that will be very bad for Mozambican athletics," an athlete who has worked with the coach told Lusa.

Alberto Lário, who was born in Mozambique and has been living in the country for several years, achieved the milestone of placing Verónica José among the six best female junior world athletes, in a bet that was supported by the Portuguese Association (AP) of Mozambique.

The world championship in Cali, Colombia, scheduled for August, will be the first major international competition for the 1,500-meter runner, who beat the time of 4.29 minutes in Braga, and has been improving her performance.

"I talked to Veronica, she has to continue no matter what happens. Not only her, but all the other athletes I work with," Alberto Lario stated.

Lusa tried, without success, to get a clarification from the Mozambican Migration Services. (Lusa)