By David Gold
June 5 – Argentine newspaper La Nacion called for FIFA vice-president Julio Grondona (pictured) to resign for his admission that he knew there were no drug tests before a 1994 World Cup qualifying game against Australia.
Argentine legend Diego Maradona had attacked Grondona, claiming that he knew members of the squad in 1993 were taking drugs.
Maradona himself tested positive for drugs during the 1994 World Cup in the United States, and alleged that Grondona had arranged for drugs tests not to take place before the World Cup qualifier, which the controversial FIFA vice-president has admitted.
As a result, Grondona, who has been the head of the Argentine Football Association for 32 years, was urged to step down in a La Nacion editorial.
“As the head of the leadership of the sport [in Argentina], his immediate exit would do football a great favor,” the newspaper wrote, “and would be the first step toward a progressive renewal of the leadership with people under less scrutiny and more idealistic.”
Another influential figure in Argentine football, Daniel Passarella, a two-time World Cup winner and former team-mate of Maradona, urged Grondona to resign last month, accusing the Football Association of making itself rich whilst allowing some of its biggest sides to mount up huge debts.
The group “Let’s Save Football” has repeatedly asked for Grondona to quit his position because of continuing violence at football matches in the country.
Grondona was one of the main FIFA members to take aim at England this week after English Football Association chairman David Bernstein called for the FIFA Presidential election to be postponed.
“We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is busy lying rather than telling the truth,” he said.
Maradona, who has threatened legal action against Grondona, has also taken aim at FIFA with fierce criticism of the way the game is run, and poured scorn on proposed reforms.
“Things are neither clear nor clean in the world of football right now and many people recognise this reality,” he said.
“Every day we see more corruption and manipulation of matches.
“I do not support anybody but I love football.
“I do not like those who are corrupt and who engage in corruption and I do not support them.”
The former Argentina coach also criticised the concept of the FIFA family, whom he has rejected the offer to speak in front of in the past.
“What is this family that they speak of?” he said.
“None of them has ever played football, and when they are at the helm they make a multitude of wrong and stupid mistakes.
“They don’t ask our opinion or advice to promote football.”
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734874192labto1734874192ofdlr1734874192owedi1734874192sni@d1734874192log.d1734874192ivad1734874192
Related stories
June 2011: Maradona vows to sue Grondona as row escalates
June 2011: Argentina put the boot in as England left humiliated by FIFA again