Buenos Aires, Jul 29: Argentina president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who had earlier made her support for Diego Maradona evident when she personally requested him to stay on as the coach, has now expressed emmense disappointment over the decision of the country's football association.

"I'm very saddened by his departure. I thought he was very dignified with the team," said Kirchner.

"He always defended the colours of his country with a lot of heart," she added.

The president is learnt to have personally phoned the sacked coach after his Wednesday, Jul 28 press conference.

She had earlier requested him personally to stay on as the coach. However, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) did not give him much of an option to make a choice as he was unanimously voted out over the national football team's defeat against Germany in FIFA World Cup 2010 quarter finals.

At the press conference, the 49-year-old football legend accused Argentine Football Federation president Julio Grondona of lying to him and team manager Carlos Bilardo of betrayal.

"Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me...They asked me to put out the fire and we did it. I have given everything. Treason is everywhere. There are people who do not want the best for Argentine football," an emotional Maradona said.

"They only have their own personal interests at heart," he lashed out.

OneIndia News