Maradona lashes out at 'treason', 'lies'

Jul 29, 2010 |

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Buenos Aires, July 29: Diego Maradona on Wednesday accused Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Julio Grondona of "lying" and team manager Carlos Bilardo of "treason".

Maradona launched his bitter tirade just a day after he was sacked as national team coach.

"Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me," said Maradona in his first news conference since his colourful and controversial reign as Argentina coach came to an abrupt end on Tuesday.

"Grondona, in the dressing room after we had been knocked out of the World Cup in South Africa, told me in front of witnesses and the players that he was very happy with my work and that he wanted me to carry on.

"On our return to Argentina, things started to take on a bizarre twist and on Monday I met with Grondona.

"After five minutes, he told me that he wanted me to continue, but that seven of my technical staff could not stay. When he told me this, he was saying that he didn't want me to carry on in the job.

"He knows that it is impossible for me to stay as coach without my colleagues."

Maradona also hit out at Bilardo who was coach of the 1986 World Cup winning team in which Maradona played a starring role.

"When we were in mourning, Bilardo was working in the shadows to get nme fired," he said.

Maradona, who took charge of the team in October 2008, has been replaced by national Under-20 coach Sergio Batista.

But that will be a temporary appointment for the August 11 friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

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