Maradona accused of lying Grondona and Bilardo to betray

BUENOS AIRES - Diego Maradona acknowledged on Wednesday the director of national team, Carlos Bilardo, of betraying him and the owner of the Argentine Football Association Julio Grondona, of having lied, one day after being fired as coach albiceleste.

"I was called to extinguish a fire, extinguishes it, and when we had more time, this happens: I lied Grondona and Bilardo betrayed me," said Maradona in a message read to the press without allowing questions.

The sports idol was fired Tuesday after a tense meeting with Grondona and then refused to remove requirement of the leader of seven employees.

"Grab whom you hold the selection (who takes over) you know that betrayal is just around the corner. There are characters who do not want either Argentine football and only look after their personal interests and their bank accounts," continued Maradona, who led the team during a year and half, the shortest cycle of the last 35 years.

In his harsh accusations against Bilardo, the best soccer of the 80s further stated that "we were in mourning and working in the shadows to give me."

The 'nosed' coach Bilardo Maradona was in the Argentina-Mexico world champion in 1986 and runner-up in Italy-1990, but their relationship has always been contentious.

He had promised he would go with Maradona if he left office, but was the only Grondona confirmed in a real cleanup that included the private secretary to the leader himself.

Maradona, who looked tense and sad at the news conference, also charged against the influential head of the AFA and FIFA vice president, noting that since Italy 1990, when the albiceleste was runner-up, "Argentina can not exceed the quarter- final. " "Something is going wrong in Argentine football, can not be that the players succeed in their clubs and not in the selection," said 'The Fuzz' in reference to the leaders of the AFA.

After Maradona's offense, defense and came out Grondona said he had not lied to the former coach. "I still regret that he's gone because it is very sad, but I lied to Maradona. I said in Pretoria that he was satisfied and had to follow, but conditions were different, we had to make changes," he explained.

The dismissal of Maradona struck up the Government House where President Cristina Kirchner spoke by telephone with the ex-coach. "The truth is that I'm a little sad today as Diego," said Kirchner and backed former player, saying "always defended the Argentine colors with the heart."

Argentina had a good start in South Africa 2010 with three wins in the first round and a victory somewhat more complicated in the second round against Mexico 3-1 in the quarterfinals but was thrashed 4-0 by Germany.

Under the leadership of Maradona, Argentina's national team played 25 games, including friendlies and officers, which won 18 and lost seven, with 49 goals in favor and 31 against.

Albiceleste selection fails an international title since the Copa America in Ecuador, 1993, while the U-20 and have garnered numerous Olympic laurels in recent years.

The AFA will take time to confirm a replacement for Maradona, but it began to roll names like Alejandro Sabella, Argentine champion and Copa Libertadores 2009 as coach of Estudiantes de La Plata. Miguel Angel Russo also (Racing Club) and Sergio Batista, coach and guide youth champion Argentina in the Beijing Olympics.

'The Checho' Batista, Maradona partner in Mexico, 1986, will assume on an interim basis in the combined greater for the friendly against Ireland in Dublin on August 11 and world champion Spain in Buenos Aires on 7 September.

With new coach, Argentina now committed to cutting the streak of 18 years without a title at the Copa America, which organized next year.

- Written By VIMAL -

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