Sampaoli dispels 'misunderstanding' over his exit

Chile coach Jorge Sampoali appears to have had a change of heart about staying on as coach of Chile despite intimating that his days in the job were numbered. The Argentine looked to be on the verge of quitting six months after guiding La Roja to the Copa America, with the Argentine claiming this week he was being held "hostage" by the federation. Sampaoli had called a press conference at which he had been expected to announce he was stepping down after three years in the job. After the heady days of last year and Copa glory, Chilean football has descended into crisis with federation president Sergio Jadue disgraced in the FIFA bribery scandal. Sampaoli had been upset at local media reports alleging that he was guilty of tax evasion and that he held an offshore bank account. New Chilean football chief Arturo Salah had refused to let Sampaoli break his contract unless he paid a $6 million (5.5 million euros) buy-out clause. "In this atmosphere, I don't want to work or live any more in this country," Sampaoli had told Chilean website Faro Deportivo on Monday. "I could never have thought that the image of an idol who has given so much to Chilean football could be destroyed in such a short time," he added. "My honour and my dignity have been damaged by pretending there's a link with the corrupt acts of the former president. It's incredible and unacceptable." But he struck an altogether more conciliatory tone at Wednesday's press conference. "It's not true that I don't want to live or work in Chile. On the contrary I want to dispel this misunderstanding," he insisted. "I've been living here for seven years and I've had some unforgettable times. "My project both personal and professional is tied to Chile, I want to continue living in Santiago." Jadue, vice-president of South American regional body Conmebol, is reportedly in witness protection in the United States to cooperate with a probe into the corruption scandal.