The Portuguese detective heading the search for Madeleine McCann has reportedly been sacked after accusing her parents of manipulating the British police.
Sky News sources said Gonçalo Amaral had been relieved of his duties as head of the regional Policia Judiciaria (PJ) in Portimao.
He also ceases to head the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance.
Sky News understands the directors of the PJ are upset with some of the statements he has made.
Earlier, Mr Amaral accused Kate and Gerry McCann of calling the shots by identifying the lines of inquiry Leicestershire Police should take.
He said British officers had overlooked the fact that the couple remain suspects.
And he accused the McCanns of releasing new information each day to try to distract and confuse the inquiry.
Sky's Ian Woods said there was resentment among Portuguese police that they were being made out to be incompetent and "bumbling".
He added that Mr Amaral was also under investigation following allegations he had put pressure on a suspect in a previous murder inquiry.
He was one of five men charged over an alleged attack on Leonor Cipriano, whose nine-year-old daughter Joana vanished in September 2004.
Mr Amaral broke his silence after it was reported that an anonymous email which had been sent to the Prince of Wales' website was being investigated by British police.
The message suggested a disgruntled employee working at the Ocean Club complex in Praia da Luz may have kidnapped the young girl.
Mr Amaral told Portuguese newspaper Diario De Noticias all current and former employees at the resort had been investigated.
He said: "The British police have only worked on what the McCann couple want them to work on and what suits them."
Speaking about the email lead, he added: "This situation has no credibility whatsoever for the Portuguese police.
"British police have investigated tips and information worked on by the McCanns, forgetting that the couple are suspected of causing the death of their daughter Madeleine.
"This story about kidnapping for revenge is another fact worked on by the McCanns."
The detective was also forced to defend a two-hour lunch break with police spokesman Olegario Sousa at a restaurant in Portimao.
The men were spotted drinking what looked like white wine and whisky as the McCanns flew to Berlin to publicise the case.
Sky Special On Madeleine 30/09/07
It was five months ago this week that Madeleine McCann vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal. In this special report, Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt examines the investigation so far and separates fact from fiction.
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