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Maradona Denounces Pelé, US Foreign Policy
EL Pibo d'Oro was in chatty mood on the last day of his trip to Kolkata, India; he discussed why footballers do not respect Pelé like they respect him, and also laid the boot into US foreign policy...
08-Dec-2008 6:46:58 PM
Argentina coach Diego Maradona rounded off a trip to Kolkata by re-opening the war of words between himself and long-time rival Pelé, and went on to blast the decision making of the Bush administration.
Pelé and Maradona have enjoyed an uneasy relationship with each other, as a result of their respective standings in the eyes of football observers.
For some, Pelé is the greatest exponent of the beautiful game, while for others, it is El Pibo d'Oro who stands alone at the highest reaches of the game's masters.
Even FIFA, when conducting their Footballer of the 20th Century, failed to separate the pair. The governing body instead offered the South American legends a share of the prize.
However, Maradona has once again hit out at his Brazilian counterpart with the claim that footballers do not respect the three-time World Cup winner.
El Diego suggested that Pelé is a friend of the moneymen around the game, while professionals themselves plump for the 1986 World Cup winning captain as the football's golden boy.
He told the Times of India: "The biggest and main difference between Pele and Maradona is I have the respect of all footballers, which Pele does not have.
"Pele is a friend of those who manage football. I am not friends with them. I am with the players.
"I do not have anything against Pele, but Pele has against me. Because he was second to Ayrton Senna (triple Formula One World Champion), and second to Maradona as well."
Diego, The Left-Winger
Maradona went on to detail his friendship with Fidel Castro, the former president of communist Cuba.
He said: "You get enriched every moment you spent with him, even when you say hello. We talked about football, politics, baseball. We talked of the USA as well. We talked about the dark sides of imperialism."
The highly politicised Argentinean, an ally of leftist leaders Evo Morales of Bolivia and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, laid the blame for the world's woes at the door of the United States, and urged smaller nations to stand up for themselves in the wake of the global economic downturn.
He continued: "The problems have been mainly created by the US. They say they are big, others small.
"They decide, and then we have to go by their decisions. But now, after what has happened to the US (economy), the time has come for every nation to take their own decisions.
Grasping at thorny issues, Maradona also lamented the problem of terrorism in the world, whereby children were being made innocent victims of illicit warfare.
He concluded: "We have to stop this because there are many innocent people, innocent kids, paying the price. They should not be paying the price."
Peter Staunton, Goal.com
Pelé and Maradona have enjoyed an uneasy relationship with each other, as a result of their respective standings in the eyes of football observers.
For some, Pelé is the greatest exponent of the beautiful game, while for others, it is El Pibo d'Oro who stands alone at the highest reaches of the game's masters.
Even FIFA, when conducting their Footballer of the 20th Century, failed to separate the pair. The governing body instead offered the South American legends a share of the prize.
However, Maradona has once again hit out at his Brazilian counterpart with the claim that footballers do not respect the three-time World Cup winner.
El Diego suggested that Pelé is a friend of the moneymen around the game, while professionals themselves plump for the 1986 World Cup winning captain as the football's golden boy.
He told the Times of India: "The biggest and main difference between Pele and Maradona is I have the respect of all footballers, which Pele does not have.
"Pele is a friend of those who manage football. I am not friends with them. I am with the players.
"I do not have anything against Pele, but Pele has against me. Because he was second to Ayrton Senna (triple Formula One World Champion), and second to Maradona as well."
Diego, The Left-Winger
Maradona went on to detail his friendship with Fidel Castro, the former president of communist Cuba.
He said: "You get enriched every moment you spent with him, even when you say hello. We talked about football, politics, baseball. We talked of the USA as well. We talked about the dark sides of imperialism."
The highly politicised Argentinean, an ally of leftist leaders Evo Morales of Bolivia and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, laid the blame for the world's woes at the door of the United States, and urged smaller nations to stand up for themselves in the wake of the global economic downturn.
He continued: "The problems have been mainly created by the US. They say they are big, others small.
"They decide, and then we have to go by their decisions. But now, after what has happened to the US (economy), the time has come for every nation to take their own decisions.
Grasping at thorny issues, Maradona also lamented the problem of terrorism in the world, whereby children were being made innocent victims of illicit warfare.
He concluded: "We have to stop this because there are many innocent people, innocent kids, paying the price. They should not be paying the price."
Peter Staunton, Goal.com
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