UAE Club Sack Maradona

Former Argentina World Cup-winning captain, Diego Maradona, has been sacked as coach of United Arab Emirates Club, Al Wasl.

The 51-year-old, who agreed a two-year contract with Al Wasl in May 2011, was dismissed following a meeting of the club’s board yesterday.

“Following a meeting held by the board of directors of Al Wasl Football Company to evaluate the technical staff of Al Wasl under the leadership of Coach Diego Maradona, it was decided to terminate the services of Coach Diego Maradona and his technical staff,” a club statement said.

Speculation had been rife that Maradona’s days as coach were numbered following the resignation of the club’s board in June and its replacement with a new one.

That change brought about the departure of chairman, Marwan bin Bayat, a man who had supported Maradona.

Maradona, however, refused to recognise that he has been sacked, believing instead that the news is just a hoax perpetrated by long-time adversary, Pele, reports YahooSports.

The Argentine legend was on holiday in Dubai when he received the news that he promptly wrote off as a prank call from the 71-year-old Brazilian great.

“This is so Pele,” Maradona told reporters in Dubai. “As soon as I got the call, I knew he was trying to fool me. Who gets sacked for finishing eighth? This was just his attempt at payback for the time Fidel Castro and I sent 30 pizzas to his house that he had to pay for. But it’s not going to work. The Bono of football is way too smart to fall for this.”