Maradona's high praise for Bolivian cause

[Judi Lynn]

Maradona's high praise for Bolivian cause
Tuesday, March 18, 2008



Heads for heights: Diego Maradona, right, and Evo Morales, centre

Diego Maradona has weighed into the debate over Fifa's decision to restrict the playing of international matches at high altitude.

The Argentine legend joined Bolivian president Evo Morales on Monday for a charity game in front of 30,000 people in Bolivia's national stadium at 3,600 metres above sea level.

The Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz, the highest capital city in the world, can no longer be used for World Cup qualifying games under Fifa's new guidelines.

On Friday Fifa ruled internationals can only be played above 2,750 metres if visiting teams are given one week to acclimatise and above 3,000 metres if they are given two weeks.

As clubs are only obliged to release players for internationals five days in advance, the decision effectively rules out matches above these altitudes.

'I, at the age of 47, and president Morales have shown Fifa that you can run on this pitch,' Maradona, captain of Argentina's 1986 World Cup-winning team, said.

'You have to play where you are born, not even God can prohibit this and certainly not (Fifa president Sepp) Blatter.'
(snip)

Also on Monday Chile's federation said their World Cup qualifying match on June 14 against Bolivia would be played in La Paz in spite of the new restrictions.

The Chilean federation said the decision to play in La Paz respects an accord taken by members of the South American confederation.

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