World Cup - Argentina defend Maradona

Reuters - Thu, 29 Oct 00:03:00 2009

Diego Maradona was "in a state of violent emotion" when he made lewd remarks at journalists after Argentina qualified for the World Cup finals, the Argentine Football Association's (AFA) lawyer has claimed.

2010 World Cup qualif Argentina Maradona - 0

FIFA opened an investigation into Maradona's outburst at the globally broadcast news conference after his team beat Uruguay 1-0 in Montevideo on October 14 to secure their place at the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Maradona could be fined and banned for at least five matches, according to the FIFA disciplinary code, which could affect his hopes of being in charge of Argentina at the finals.

Lawyer Hugo Passos told reporters on Wednesday the AFA report sent to FIFA said "Maradona was acting in a state of violent emotion over arguments with journalists in the days before the match (in Uruguay)."

The AFA is looking to pour cold water on the issue to try to avoid a sanction for Maradona, who has refused to apologise, saying he had felt aggrieved over criticism of his work.

Maradona's tenure has been marked by clashes with players, coaches, journalists and directors since he took charge midway through the qualifiers in November 2008 following the resignation of Alfio Basile.

Playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, a central figure at the 2006 World Cup and for Basile in the 2010 qualifiers, quit saying Maradona did not live by "the same codes".

Maradona has also had differences with 1986 World Cup-winning coach Carlos Bilardo, who was appointed the AFA's technical director of national teams.

Bilardo appeared to have been named as someone whom Maradona could turn to for support but the coach has said he will make all the decisions and the older man should "stay up in the directors' box in suit and tie" with AFA president Julio Grondona.

Maradona has begun building a staff for the World Cup by adding former Argentina defender Fernando Gamboa, who is coach of Chacarita Juniors, while Bilardo ally Miguel Angel Lemme will leave when his contract expires next week.

Reuters

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  1. Come on, things didn't go right for Argentina­ straight away - and Marad0ne took all the flak. When­ things came good, he had a right to feel a little angry­ at all the hurtful things they'd said about him. I­ think I'd have felt that way, too.

    I hope FIFA­ will take into consideration that Diego has done­ nothing wrong on the touchline, and has been under an­ awful amount of pressure. Please fine him $1 U.S. and­ forget about it. I hope you do.

    From Trish Scott, on Tue 3 Nov 5:44AM

  2. He's mentally unstable

    From Peter, on Fri 30 Oct 4:28PM

  3. THE ITALIAN JOB IN UK ...

    Sig. Ancelotti doing very­ well
    Sig. Capello also
    Sig. Trapattoni too
    Sig. Zola­ not bad
    Sig. Di Matteo with West Brom. Albion doing­ briliant job
    Sig. Mancini NEW COACH OF REAL MADRID­ !!!

    Fifa & fRANCE fOOTBALL should give the prize­ of best player OF THE YEAR to THE ITALIAN COACH­ !!!
    They are really the best coaches all over the­ World...

    And what you don`t know that there are a lot­ at same level like :

    - Prandelli with Fiorentina
    -­ Luigi del Neri with Sampdoria NEW COACH OF ITALY AFTER­ M.LIPPI
    - Guidolin with Parma
    - Zenga with Palermo
    -­ Cosmi with Livorno
    - Mazzarri with Napoli
    - CONTE with­ ATALANTA

    Final world cup 2010 in south­ africa
    REMEMBERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
    Ivory Coast VS ­ Italy
    REMEMBERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
    will win it Ivory Coast­ ...

    From yoab m, on Fri 30 Oct 7:36AM
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