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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Diego Maradona, the Argentine soccer great who scored the “Hand of God” goal in 1986 and led his country to that year's World Cup title before later struggling with cocaine use and obesity, has died. He was 60. A person close to Maradona said he died Wednesday of a heart attack. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. Maradona died two weeks after being released from a Buenos Aires hospital following brain surgery.

FOOTBALL great Diego Maradona says corruption and match-fixing scandals that have hit Fifa will continue as long as the sport's governing body is run by 'dinosaurs.' The Argentine is in Dubai to sign a two-year contract to coach the local Dubai Al Wasl club. Maradona said Fifa had been badly run over the years and attacked Wednesday's re-relection of President Sepp Blatter 'who has never kicked a football.' Maradona, 50, said an ex-footballer should be in charge but did not suggest anyone. Maradona hasn't coached since leading his country to the World Cup quarterfinals last year. The Dubai club has...

Kolkata: US President George W. Bush is a "bit of an assassin" but his successor Barack Obama will, hopefully, do a good job, soccer legend Diego Maradona said Saturday. Maradona gets a tumultuous welcome in Kolkata | Click here for latest football news.. "I would like to think of George Bush as a bit of an assassin. I like this change. I welcome this change," Maradona said at his first media conference in India when asked to comment on US president-elect Obama. The Argentinian legend is on a short visit here. "I like Obama a lot. I think he will...

Latin America: If you heeded the hype from gloomy hand wringers or news photos of shop-trashing anti-American thugs, you'd think President Bush left the Argentina summit in failure. It's nothing but rubbish. Seldom has news been so distorted against facts. Most of the U.S. media claim that because the 34 states were obstructed from full agreement on a declaration to kick-start free trade by a few holdouts, it's some sort of victory for the chief obstructor, U.S. antagonist Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Just by the numbers, it's a false impression. Only five states at the Organization of American States summit...

Thank God he hadn't tried as a politician yet. Diego Maradona, the soccer-star from Argentina berated George Bush - a brutal verbal foul to the president. Mar del Plata - The world champion from 1986 travelled with a train full of protesters into the Argentinian seaside resort Mar del Plata. He was wearing changing t-shirts with inscriptions like "Murderer" and "Stop Bush". During the final happening Maradona announced under the jubilation of 40.000 spectators: "Lets get rid of Bush". Before that the 45 year old used during a interview with the French news agency AFP even more dramatic words: "I...

Argentine football hero Diego Maradona has interviewed Cuban President Fidel Castro for his television chat show. The former Argentina football captain told Cuban television interviewing Mr Castro had been his dream. The two men have known each other for many years. "For me he is a god," Maradona said of the veteran communist leader. The interview is due to be broadcast on Argentina's Canal 13 television channel on Monday. The contents of the programme have not been revealed. Maradona became friends with Mr Castro during his stays in Cuba to receive treatment for cocaine addiction. He has a tattoo of...

Diego Maradona has promised his friend Fidel Castro that he will head an anti-Bush march in Argentina next week during a visit by the American President to a regional summit. The former Argentinian World Cup hero made his pledge to the Cuban leader on television in Havana yesterday. "I think Bush is a murderer. ... I’m going to head the march against him stepping foot on Argentine soil," Maradona said. President Bush will be in Mar del Plata, Argentina, as part of a summit of leaders from the Americas next week. Señor Castro, 79, has not been invited. The former...

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona said on Thursday he was "in love" with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whom he admires for his left-wing political policies. "I like women, but I've fallen in love with Chavez," Argentina's former World Cup winning captain told reporters after having lunch with the Venezuelan leader at the presidential palace. The two embraced afterward. The 44-year-old soccer celebrity, considered one of the greatest players of all time, is also an ardent admirer of Fidel Castro, the Communist President of Cuba where Maradona has lived since 2000 while fighting cocaine addiction.