This decision handed down by FIFA in Zurich today on Argentine coach Diego Maradona is the reason why people in South America and in Argentine football fear Julio Grondona. He is a picture perfect clone of an old Vito Corleone.


How much influence Grondona? How about the little letter he wrote Blatter. Between this decision and his unilateral diplomacy by simply rescinding the television contract that AFA had with TSC and placing the matches on public television (thanks to the huge bailout he got from the government), he pulled off two of the biggest power plays of the century and did it with hardly any opposition.

No one knows exactly what it said, but there must have been something regarding alternative solutions to the whole Maradona fiasco. People know that part of Grondona's responsibilities is to be active with the FIFA disciplinary committee. So anyone that says he has nothing to do with this decision needs to see who really is in charge at FIFA. Is it Blatter and his bafoonery or is it the cold and calculated Grondona? This is why today's suspension of Diego Maradona raised so many eyebrows.


The Argentine national coach will have to serve a two-month ban effective immediately and will return to his duties on January 15th. This is a reduced sentence since he did "apologize and showed sincere remorse upon being handed down his decision". He also will not be able to take part in any football related activity. Sounds tough on paper, right? Of course, there are two details one must look at. First of all, there are no FIFA dates until February (African Cup of Nations) and March (Argentina are scheduled to play Germany).

Thus, he will only miss the tentative match that the Albiceleste have against the Catalunya select side at the Nou Camp on December 22nd. That preparations for leading up to that match will be handled by Maradona's top assistant and former Vélez Sarsfield star Alejandro Mancuso. That match was schedule to see two of the greatest players in the history of humanity face off on the sidelines as Johan Cruyff will make his debut as Catalan coach.

Second of all, it is going to be a relaxing summer vacation for El Diego. If punishment means that I will be able to go spend some free time in any exotic beach in the world that is not in the US, well hurt me bad.

So everyone wins. FIFA look good for being tough. Maradona is "punished" for berating the media the way he did. Everyone will be happy and when he returns, he will be D10S once again. They have as much of a short memory over in Argentina as much as fans here in the US. To be honest with you, this decision is the equivalent of suspending Alex Ferguson for the entire summer for his comments the other day.

So now that "Fuck the Police"-"I Fought The Law"-Yankee Imperialist-check out how I kiss my Ché Guevara tat-while I smoke a Cohiba attitude will probably be more submissive than before. I mean how can he afford to lose €16,600 and be exposed to possibly worse reprimands if he repeats this behavior? That type of money might see him in the poor house.