Diego Maradona accuses AFA of ‘lies and betrayal’

Diego Maradona has hit out at the Argentine Football Association after his contract as manager of the national team was not renewed.

The 49-year-old, who was in charge of Argentina for 20 months, vented his frustration towards AFA president Julio Grondona and Carlos Bilardo, accusing the association of ‘lies and betrayal’.

He claims Bilardo ‘worked in the shadows’ to remove him from his post after Argentina’s quarter-final World Cup exit.

The angered Argentinian explained how Grondona had initially given him his backing before later demanding that Maradona change his backroom staff.

“After five minutes, he told me that he wanted me to continue but that seven of my technical staff could not stay,” said Maradona.

“When he told me this, he was saying that he didn’t want me to carry on in the job.”

Grondona has defended the accusations, stating that he had wished for Maradona to continue.

Sergio Batista has been appointed caretaker manager after leaving his role as Argentina’s youth coach.

“Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me,” Maradona added bluntly.

Batista and Maradona were both members of the World Cup winning squad in 1986.