Scolari wants Breno released

Munich - Brazil national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has called for a "second chance" for jailed defender Breno, who is serving a sentence in Germany for arson.

"I would like to ask the people in Germany responsible for passing sentence to consider a bit whether the lad, who has made this mistake, should not be given a second chance," Scolari is quoted as telling Monday's daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in Sao Paulo.

The 23-year-old former Bayern Munich defender was jailed for three years and nine months in July 2012 after being found guilty of setting fire to his Munich home.

"We would be very grateful if the responsible persons in Germany listen to our request, also because it is a request from the whole of Brazil," Scolari said.

"If he is allowed to return to Brazil, and football again becomes the focus of his life, it would be a new start for him."

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said early last month that Breno could soon be allowed day release from prison provided he had a job "which we would of course offer him."

The club chairman indicated that Breno could work as assistant coach for the youth teams.