Ex-Italian footballer calls Maradona a charlatan

Argentina’s 4-0 loss to Germany in the 2010 World Cup will only help to pour salt into the words of Diego Maradona who has already invested in press conference time this year by mentioning episodes of 28 years ago.
After Argentina’s win against Mexico, Maradona was asked a question about whether the Mexican player who produced a foul on Messi should have deserved a red card.

The Argentinian coach answered by saying: “Mexico needs to worry about the lack of a red card for its defender’s foul against Messi.

We’re not back in the days of killer defenders like Gentile.
” The statement refers to the infamous Italy-Argentina game of the 1982 World Cup in which Italy used its defender, Claudio Gentile, to mark one-on-one Maradona, thus effectively removing him from the game by preventing any play from the famous Argentinian striker.
Italy won the match and then went on to win the championship that year, and it’s something that Maradona has never been able to accept.

The Italian footballer has responded by calling Maradona less of a coach and more of a charlatan, saying: “Maradona was sent off during the 1982 World Cup for a kick to the stomach of a Brazilian player.

I, however, have never been sent off for violent play.
I only once got a red card for a hand interference on the ball in a Champions League match and that’s it.
Maradona’s a charlatan.
That’s his opinion, but I don’t respect him and I don’t agree.
”Them’s fighting words, it would appear, although it seems things can’t be left on the pitch of 28 years ago.
For more on that match and why Maradona can’t accept the result, like a bitter pill, see an extract from a documentary on the world cup and the azzurri after the jump.