FIFA World Cup 2010: Argentinean Coach Diego Maradona takes on referees in a press conference a few hours before the quarterfinal against Germany
Diego Maradona is at it again, yesterday the target of his press conference was the young German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger but today the focus has shifted onto referees and other FIFA officials in the FIFA World Cup 2010.
In all honesty, so far the FIFA World Cup of 2010 has been spoiled by some very bad officiating. Whether it be harsh sending offs, wrong offside calls or even ball-over-the-line goals disallowed, the referees have truly out done themselves in this year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Maradona’s latest criticism on referees comes only a few hours before his Argentinean team takes on the Germans in an epic battle for a semi-final berth. War of words has been at full swing during the build up to the match and now Maradona has taken it to the new level, as Argentina look to qualify for their fourth World Cup semi-final, whereas Germany are looking to make it to their seventh semi-final in FIFA World Cup competitions.
Known for his distinctive style and built as a player, Maradona won the world cup as the captain of the Argentinean national team in 1986, when the tournament was held in Mexico. Maradona took over as the coach of the Argentinean team in November of 2008 after recovering from a cocaine addiction problem.
Argentina’s world cup qualification campaign was not at all impressive but eventually they did manage to qualify. Their performances in the World Cup so far have been quite exciting. Led by the Liverpool midfielder Mascherano, Argentina have yet to lose or draw a game in the FIFA World Cup.
After Schweinsteiger mentioned yesterday that the Argentineans try to influence referees on the field through their gestures and antics, Maradona has had a go at the referees stating that Germany and Spain both were in the quarter finals courtesy of some horrible officiating.
He said that “every contested situation went Spain’s way” and he also disputed the decision by the referee to send off Portuguese right back Ricardo Costa, after an off the ball incident with the Spanish left back Capdevilla, who plays for Villarreal in La Liga.
Maradona also explained that he knew the referee who was in charge of the Spain versus Portugal match. He went onto elaborate that Baldassi, who is Argentinean himself, did a very bad job in the match. He also stated that he and Baldassi were good friends and they spoke “all the time”.
He also lambasted the linesman who was part of Baldassi’s officiating team, as he compared him to the blind Italian singer Andrea Bocelli. Argentinean legend Maradona, then criticized the Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda, who was officiating the Germany versus England quarter final match in the World Cup.
Maradona said that the Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal against Germany was clearly a goal as the ball crossed the line. He also remarked that he was unaware whether the whole incident was retribution for the goal line controversy, which surrounded Geoff Hurst’s goal for England against Germany in the 1966 World Cup final.
Maradona however, conveniently failed to recall the offside goal which Carlos Tevez scored for the Argentineans during their round of sixteen tie against Mexico. When the controversial goal was replayed on the big screens during the match at half time, a fight broke out between the Mexican players and the referee. Despite open publication of this fact, Maradona refrained from commenting on the incident or on the refereeing mistake that preceded it.
Argentinean manager’s comments about the referees can be seen as a method of putting the officials under pressure before the big quarter final game, where they will be required to make some game altering decisions for sure.
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