Diego Maradona has accused Argentina football chief Julio Grondona of lying and team manager Carlos Bilardo of treason in a bitter attack on the men he insists plotted his downfall."Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me," said an emotional Maradona after his colorful and controversial reign as Argentina coach came to an abrupt end.
"Grondona, in the dressing room after we had been knocked out of the World Cup, 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 a bizarre twist and on Monday I met with Grondona.
"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 without my assistants."
Reading from a prepared statement, the icon also hit out at Bilardo who coached the 1986 World Cup-winning team skippered by Maradona.
"When we were in mourning, Bilardo was working in the shadows to get me fired," he said.
Maradona was close to tears as he listed his grievances.
"I was called in with the squad divided and split by internal problems," he said.
"They asked me to put out the fire and we did it. I have given everything. Treason is everywhere. There are people who do not want the best for Argentine football. They only have their own personal interests at heart."
Mar
adona, who took charge in October 2008, has been replaced for the time being by Under-20 coach Sergio Batista who will lead the team for the August 11 friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. Before the meeting with Grondona, Maradona, whose final game in charge was the 4-0 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Germany, had made it plain he wanted to stay on as long as he could keep his staff.
"If they touch a hair of one of my guys, even the masseur or the kitman, I'm going," he said.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
