Argentina Coach Maradona Speaks Out After Completing Two Month Ban

Posted Tuesday, January 26, 2010 by Goal.com

The World Cup winner says he followed the ban to the letter of the law.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona has claimed that he offered to pay FIFA to allow him to speak to his players during his two month ban from football which ended last week.

El Pelusa was banned from football for two months following controversial comments at a press conference after his team secured their place at the World Cup finals and he insists that he obeyed the ruling to the letter of the law.

"I asked that I would not be kept at a distance from the players because we had little time to prepare for the World Cup, but they wouldn't listen. With the money I offered you could have built another stadium in South Africa," he is quoted as saying by AS.

"I could not even talk on the phone with the players. That is something I would not wish on anyone. I served the penalty to the letter."

Maradona also revealed that he will pick a provisional squad of 30 before whittling it down to the 23 allowed for the tournament. During his term as Argentina coach, Maradona has used a total of 94 players.

"I try to allow the players to prove in positions their worth for selection. I will do my best to select the best, first to 30 and before the tournament to the final 23," he remarked.