Argentina head coach Diego Maradona had some explaining to do when he and his squad arrived in Johannesburgh this week following accusations that he paid for a group of hooligans to travel on the same flight.
According to reports, 22 hooligans boarded the commercial flight with the management and players. Maradona strenuously denied that he paid for the hooligans’ air fares out of his own pocket.
“I have no relation with those characters, plus none of those will enter the campus,” Maradona said. “I couldn’t bring my father so it’s ridiculous to believe that I pay for the tickets of the hooligans.”
The Argentine Football Association steered clear of the mob and like Maradona, would not take responsibility for the hooligans. An official statement read:
“No person, group, and contingent that could match as a passenger of this flight or another one in the future, have a direct, indirect or circumstantial relation with the Argentine Football Associationâ€.
