Maradona's absense at World Cup opening ceremony a mix up, not a snub
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-12 09:47
BERLIN _ Diego Maradona did not send his RSVP early enough to get a
starring role beside Pele and Claudia Schiffer in the World Cup's opening
celebrations.
FIFA communications director Markus Siegler said if comments attributed to
the Argentine great were accurate, Maradona boycotted last Friday's opening
ceremony because of a mix up - not a snub.
"Apparently, Diego Maradona said he would have loved to be among the
champions at the opening but he didn't want to enter the stage because he was
not happy that the trophy was brought onto the field by Pele and Claudia
Schiffer," Siegler said Sunday. "Apparently he said that, not to me."
Maradona was among the 170 former champions invited by FIFA and the German
organizing committee to attend the World Cup and the FIFA Congress last week,
Siegler said.
"But we did not have up to the last moment a real confirmation that Diego
would come or not. We cannot plan parts of the opening ceremony with somebody
who we don't know if he's here," Siegler said. "If we'd known, you could imagine
we'd have the pleasure of both Pele and Diego bringing in the trophy."
The star of Argentina's 1986 World Cup triumph, Maradona has often criticized
soccer's governing body. He was sent home from the 1994 World Cup for failing a
doping test.
"It's not that FIFA did not want to have him here. He's always welcome to
FIFA," Siegler said. "It would be a great pleasure if next time he would accept
an invitation or an offer."
GOOD JOB: Argentina deserved its win 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, despite its
play.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he liked what he saw from Argentina
in the first half, when Javier Saviola and Hernan Crespo scored a goal each.
"I've seen it play better, but the important thing for them was to get the
win," Parreira said.
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