Maradona Slams Argentine Football Federation for Dismissal

Diego Maradona's contract was not renewed by AFA

Football legend Diego Maradona, who appeared to be close to tears, claimed on Wednesday in a press conference that Julio Grondona, Argentine Football Association (AFA) president betrayed him, after the association refused to renew his contract.

Maradona, reading a prepared statement in Ezeiza, a suburb of Buenos Aires, said that Bilardo secretly wanted him out even though he said to Maradona that he was happy with his work with the team.

Argentina was defeated by Germany in this year’s World Cup tournament.

"They called me to put out a fire, and we put it out," Maradona said. "Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me. While we were still in mourning (the loss to Germany), Bilardo worked in the shadows to throw me out.

Maradona added that Bilardo told him and others that “he was very happy with my work and wanted me to continue. But back in Argentina things started to change."

A few weeks ago the AFA said they were planning to renew his deal for four more years, but Maradona refused the condition of Bilardo that seven assistants would not be allowed back.

Grondona reacted to Maradona’s comments by saying that he did not lie to him.

Maradona was the star and Bilardo was his coach when the country won the 1986 World Cup, and he became a legend and symbol of national pride. His country’s football association hired him to helm the national team in hopes of another title in the World Cup in South Africa

Posted by Andre Monohan on Friday July 30 2010, 9:54 AM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0