Diego Maradona’s New Goal: Get Rid of ‘Mafia’ That Gave FIFA Bad Name

Diego Maradona has a new goal. His personal life may be dogged by allegations of fraud by his ex-wife, but the Argentine football legend wants to free FIFA from the clutches of the “mafia” that disgraced football’s world body.
“I have to fight the mafia that still remains inside FIFA. I have to fight those who have for a long time stolen from inside FIFA”, Maradona told local television channel America.
Maradona has been a long-time critic of FIFA boss Sepp Blatter. The organisation was left reeling before its May Congress after a dawn raid at a five-star Zurich hotel where seven officials, including FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb, were arrested for corruption charges.
FIFA is under investigation from the U.S. Department of Justice as well as Swiss authorities, and also faces growing pressure from top sponsors, such as Coca Cola and McDonald’s who have urged major changes.
The organisation insists it is taking the need to reform seriously and is co-operating with investigators, but for many critics those claims will be greeted with scepticism until the man who has ruled the body since 1998 is replaced.
Blatter has announced a reform taskforce to try to leave the troubled body in better shape when he finally stands down after a new leader of world football is elected in February end.
“Now in my favour, I am walking in step with the yanquis,” 54-year-old Maradona said in the interview, using Spanish-language slang for Americans. “And these yanquis are serious,” he added.
Maradona did not say whether he wanted to contest the elections. Michel Platini, the former French World Cupper and Maradona’s contemporary, is widely expected to take over.
The Argentine legend, who anchored his nation to a World Cup victory in 1986, has been plagued by personal issues. His dazzling career was blighted in later years by drug addiction, alcoholism and controversial incidents both on and off the soccer field.