Most decorated Australian Olympian McKeon retires    Adele doesn't know when she'll perform again after tearful Vegas goodbye    'Pregnant' for 15 months: Inside the 'miracle' pregnancy scam    Hezbollah fires rocket barrages into Israel after deadly Beirut strikes    British man captured while fighting with Ukraine    Far-right candidate takes shock lead in Romania presidential election    Indians risk it all to chase the American Dream    Al Ittihad claims top spot in Saudi Pro League after victory over Al Fateh    Do cigarettes belong in a museum?    Al-Jubeir discusses with EU officials enhancing bilateral cooperation    GASTAT: Non-oil exports up 22.8% in September 2024    Saudi Arabia to host 28th Annual World Investment Conference in Riyadh    Saudi Arabia allows licensed flour milling companies to export flour    Saudi Arabia joins international partnership initiative to boost hydrogen economy    Riyadh Emir inaugurates International Conference on Conjoined Twins in Riyadh    Saudi delegation participates in the 7th U20 Deans Summit in Brazil    Al Khaleej stuns Al Hilal with 3-2 victory, ending 57-match unbeaten run    SFDA move to impose travel ban on workers of food outlets in the event of food poisoning    Al Khaleej qualifies for Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship final    Katy Perry v Katie Perry: Singer wins right to use name in Australia    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Maradona says Bilardo ‘betrayed' him
By Vicente L. Panetta
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 30 - 07 - 2010

An emotional Diego Maradona, looking to be close to tears, said he was betrayed as Argentina coach by national team director Carlos Bilardo and lied to by Julio Grondona, the president of the Argentine Football Association.
Speaking one day after the Argentine Football Association declined to renew his contract, Maradona claimed Wednesday that Bilardo worked deviously to get rid of him and that Grondona had previously said he was happy with his work.
Argentina was beaten 4-0 by Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa.
“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.
“My technical team and I were prepared to keep going,” he added. “Grondona, in the changing room in South Africa, said in front of witnesses that he was very happy with my work and wanted me to continue. But back in Argentina things started to change.”
Bilardo was the coach of Argentina and Maradona its star player when the team won the World Cup in 1986.
The AFA had said several weeks ago that it planned to offer him a new four-year deal, and Maradona said Grondona asked him in a meeting Monday to continue but without seven of his assistants. Maradona said he could not meet those conditions.
Grondona, replying after Maradona spoke, said he had not lied to the famous No. 10.
“I continue being sorry that he has gone because it's very sad,” Grondona said.
“But I did not lie to Maradona. I told Maradona that I was content with him, that he had to continue. What he misinterpreted was that the conditions weren't the same.”
Maradona read from a prepared script for about 10 minutes in a restaurant in the Buenos Aires suburb of Ezeiza. And despite a room packed with reporters and family members – including his two daughters – he took no questions.
The 49-year-old Maradona replaced Alfio Basile as Argentina coach 21 months ago. He suggested he didn't have enough time to make changes, noting that Argentina had failed to get past the World Cup quarterfinals for the fifth straight time.
Argentina has some of the best players in the world, including forwards Lionel Messi of Barcelona, Carlos Tevez of Manchester City and Gonzalo Higuain of Real Madrid.
“The team is made up of mostly young players with immense future,” Maradona said. “They can dream big and beautifully.”
Maradona didn't mention Argentina youth team manager Sergio Batista, who will be the interim coach for the Aug. 11 friendly at Ireland. There is also a Sept. 7 friendly at River Plate stadium against world champion Spain. Possible permanent successors include two club coaches in Argentina: Alejandro Sabella of Estudiantes and Miguel Russo of Racing.
Maradona, a national icon who divides opinion, was hired by Grondona despite having little coaching experience. Some thought he was out-coached by Germany's Joachim Loew, who identified Argentina's defensive frailties and lack of midfield speed.
Maradona gave no hint of his future plans.
“I've given everything. Everything,” Maradona said, ending his speech. “I am convinced that Argentine football needs to be in a better position. I have tried to transmit the pride that I feel, being Argentine.”
Argentina President Cristina Fernandez was “sad” about Maradona's departure and planned to meet with him, her office said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.