May 23, 2002

THE PRESIDENT of the Association of Argentine Football (AFA), Julio Grondona, has declared that Marcelo Bielsa's future as coach of the national side is up to him.

Bielsa has been at loggerheads with the FA over unpaid wages and then having his money paid in pesos rather than dollars as had originally been agreed.

Grondona claims that the debt owed to Bielsa can help the coach win himself a contract extension, a rather unusual bargaining tool.

"His continuity depends on Bielsa, the only thing that can unite us is the economic aspect,"said Grondona.

He added: "Bielsa knows how to mould the technique, the tactics and the abilities of the players.

"We are starting from the same position as anyone in the World Cup and much depends on luck.

"In a World Cup there are no easy teams, Cameroon demonstrated this to us in Italy 1990."

Meanwhile, Argentinian legend Diego Maradona has been denied entry into Japan because of a drugs conviction in Italy in 1991.

"It is a shame for Japan," said businessman Guillermo Coppola.

He added: "They allow the entrance of the people who dropped the bomb in Hiroshima but do not let Diego enter.  Still I am waiting for a reply from the embassy, but time is short."

Maradona has a contract with a Mexican TV Network and a newspaper to do commentaries on the World Cup.

Planet Football