EX-ARGENTINA COACH DIEGO MARADONA IN ‘BETRAYAL’ CLAIM

29.07.2010 [19:19]
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Baku, July 29 (AZERTAC). Diego Maradona has accused the Argentine Football Association of “lies and betrayal” after his contract as national coach was not renewed.

Maradona claimed national team manager Carlos Bilardo “worked in the shadows” to oust him after Argentina`s quarter-final exit at this summer`s World Cup.

He also accused AFA president Julio Grondona of lying about his future.

“They called me to put out a fire and we put it out. I`ve given everything, everything,” he stated.

Maradona`s 20-month reign as Argentina manager ended on Tuesday after he rejected demands to change his backroom team, leading to the AFA voting not to renew his contract.

“Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me,” he said 24 hours later.

Grondona later insisted he had wanted Maradona to stay on but said changes had to be made among his coaching team.

“I can`t see how there was a betrayal of any kind,” he stated. “"The only thing I was looking for was to make a change, not to get rid of Maradona.”

Argentina`s President Cristina Fernandez, who has backed Maradona`s tenure since the World Cup exit, was sad to see him leave the post.

Argentina Under-20 coach Sergio Batista has been appointed caretaker boss following Maradona`s departure.

EX-ARGENTINA COACH DIEGO MARADONA IN ‘BETRAYAL’ CLAIM

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