Maradona criticises Argentine FA’s mafia mentality

As if losing their third final in as many years wasn’t enough for Argentinian football to deal with, organizational problems have led to Diego Maradona comparing the Argentina Football Association to the mafia.

Following the recent penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the Copa America, Lionel Messi retired from international football citing the heartbreak of falling at the last hurdle, although suspicions of discontent within the AFA may have played a larger role.

‘I’m leaving very angry,’ Maradona told reporters in Buenos Aires, ‘Primo Corvaro [head of a team of FIFA inspectors working to overhaul the association] has broken off a meeting and they should not do that to anyone.

‘I had come to talk about Argentine football’s problems and I will tell [FIFA President] Gianni Infantino that if this is his model of football, I don’t accept it. There must be a new AFA, clear and transparent; it seems that this federation is always the same mafia.’

Several issues are harming Argentinian football in 2016, not least Messi’s retirement, alongside coach Tata Martino and potentially several senior players, but also economic and structural issues, as well as controversy over the AFA`s role in selecting the squad for the Rio Olympics.