Maradona 'quit' reports dismissed by AFA

The Argentinian Football Association have dismissed speculation Diego Maradona is set to resign as coach of the national team less than 10 days after his appointment.

Maradona, who was installed as coach on November 4, has reportedly been in dispute with Argentina FA boss Julio Grondona, who does not approve of the choice of Oscar Ruggeri as an assistant coach.

But Argentina FA technical secretary Carlos Bilardo said: “He won’t resign. I have spoken to Diego and told him he has to go slowly. There are 500 people he can choose to assist him.

“When I coached the national team (between 1983 and 1990) I had to change my whole staff after four or five months of work. But Diego wants them all at once.”

Grondona would not reveal the reasons for his dislike of former Argentina defender Ruggeri.

“It’s my problem,” he said. “I don’t want to talk about this.”