RIO DE JANEIRO Sao Caetano Coach Jair Picerni slapped a reporter in the face on Friday as his team prepared for the Joao Havelange Cup final.

The incident, which left the journalist with a split lip, was screened throughout Brazil on Globo TV's lunchtime news.

Footage showed Picerni, who was talking to a group of reporters, becoming irritated at the journalist's line of questioning.

When the reporter raised his voice, Picerni was seen to give him an open-handed slap in the face.

The reporter was then forced to the ground by three members of the training staff as Picerni aimed further punches.

The reporter, blood streaming from his lip, was then bundled out of the training ground.

Sao Caetano face Vasco da Gama in the second leg of the final today.

(Reuter)