Azzurri great Marco Tardelli has let flow his thoughts on the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar and the talk surrounding it. In an exclusive column in one of Italy’s oldest newspapers La Stampa, Tardelli specifically spoke of how the legendary Diego Maradona tried to rebel against the injustices occurring at football’s highest governing body.
“A World Cup played in the wrong place and period. Everything that came out in the newspapers this week had long been known. Respecting human rights is more important than winning a world championship or adding records to your career. Many years ago the great Diego Armando Maradona tried to rebel. He understood how FIFA moved and tried to fight it, but he was immediately suffocated by being called a cheat, thus making him pay for his attempt at revolt. We didn’t believe him, we all said he was exaggerating and doing it for personal interests. Dear Diego, I humbly apologize, for not having supported you in this battle of yours, you had seen what we could not yet see, blocked by a deficit of courage that has never been missing from you.” (via TuttoNapoli)
The Argentine legend was always outspoken regarding the stature of FIFA, blasting the organization on several occasions – most memorably called the world body’s power “ugly and people need to know it”.
He also picked at ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter number of times early last decade, calling him a disgrace of the beautiful game. Blatter was later indicted on counts of corruption involving bribery and money laundering.
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