DUBAI: Diego Maradona branded FIFA bosses ‘dinosaurs' Saturday and said the world soccer body was run by men who did not understand the game and were intent on clinging to power. The Argentine great, appearing at his first news conference as coach of United Arab Emirates' side Al-Wasl, was dismissive of this week's unopposed re-election of 75-year-old Sepp Blatter as FIFA president for another four years. “Everything will be the same ... FIFA is a big museum and they are dinosaurs who do not want to give up power,” said the man who coached his country to the quarterfinals of last year's World Cup in South Africa. “I'm not surprised Blatter was reelected because they look after themselves. They will stay until they are 105 years old,” he added. “I hope they will resign but don't be under any illusions that they will. “I have been asked to be part of the FIFA family but I said it is not a family if no-one plays football,” said Maradona. “Many people agree with me that many things are not clear in football these days and it is not something people who watch football deserve. The situation will be the same while football is run by people who do not understand football.” Blatter was reelected to a fourth and final mandate after his Qatari opponent Mohamed Bin Hammam withdrew from the race amid cash-for-votes allegations. Maradona flew in to Dubai late Friday to sign a two-year contract with Al-Wasl, a side that has won seven national titles but none since 2007. Saturday's news conference at a five-star hotel on the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island in the shape of a palm tree off the coast of Dubai, was attended by around 100 reporters and more than 20 television crews. Al-Wasl is fifth in the 12-team Etisalat Pro League. The top four sides qualify for next year's Asian Football Confederation Champions League. The UAE league has been regarded as something of a final stop before retirement for some of the world's top players. CONCACAF suspends chief The CONCACAF football confederation has provisionally banned acting president Lisle Austin of Barbados for allegedly violating rules. CONCACAF says it will ask FIFA to extend Austin's suspension from football duties worldwide until his full hearing on July 13. It did not specify details of the case. Austin took the interim presidency after longtime leader Jack Warner of Trinidad was suspended by FIFA last Sunday. FIFA probes Argentina game FIFA is investigating Argentina's 4-1 loss in Nigeria after betting patterns suggested it was targeted by match-fixers. It's the highest profile match yet in a wave of recent suspicious international friendlies. FIFA says Wednesday's match in Lagos “was one that we had an active interest in, and forms part of a wider ongoing FIFA investigation.” Referee Ibrahim Chaibou of Niger awarded two penalties, including one scored by Argentina in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time. Television replays suggested there was no handball offense by Nigeria as Chaibou indicated.
