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By Brian Homewood
QINHUANGDAO, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Brazil's players complained on Saturday after being told they would play the rest of the Olympic games without their traditional badge on their shirts.
The badge, which consists of five stars representing the five World Cups won by Brazil above the letters CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), has been removed because it contravenes Olympic policy, officials said.
Teams are not permitted to wear national soccer federation badges. "This is a load of messing around," midfielder Anderson told Brazilian media in Shenyang, where his side face New Zealand in a Group C game on Sunday.
"It's a pain to play without the symbol on the shirt because it imposes respect. We're five times champions of the world and we carry that on our chest.
"But it's a political matter and something which the players don't need to get involved in."
Brazil wore the badge in their 1-0 win over Belgium on Wednesday but were asked by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) to change it for the rest of the tournament, the CBF said.
The CBF said it agreed with the request to help Rio de Janeiro's bid to stage the 2016 Games.
