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Maradona brushes off Butcher snub

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-19 10:23

LONDON -- Diego Maradona Tuesday shrugged off Scotland assistant coach Terry Butcher's comments on his 'Hand of God' goal ahead of Argentina's friendly at Scotland.

Argentina's soccer team head coach Diego Maradona gestures during a news conference in Glasgow, Scotland November 18,2008. [Agencies]

Butcher, former England captain, said he would never forgive the new Argentina boss for his infamous goal which helped knock England out of the 1986 World Cup.

Maradona, in Glasgow preparing for his first match in charge, raised his eyebrows when told of Butcher's stance but insisted he would not be distracted.

"No, I will not seek him out," he told a news conference through an interpreter.

"I don't understand why Butcher has this attitude. If people are fine with me I will greet them.

"I just don't understand why Butcher would take this attitude. Let Butcher get on with his own life and I'll get on with my life, " Maradona said.

The football legend has received a warm welcome in Scotland but Butcher has suggested that he will not shake hands with the one of the game's greatest player on the touchline on Wednesday.

But Maradona retorted: "I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. If Butcher doesn't shake my hand, I'll still be alive tomorrow."

In the 1986 quarter-final in Mexico, Maradona punched in his first goal before adding a splendid second for a 2-0 win against England.

But he went into self-defence by reminding England of Geoff Hurst's controversial second goal against West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final which England won 4-2.

"England won a World Cup with a goal that never crossed the line, " Maradona said.

"It was plain to everyone who saw it that it never went in, so I don't think it's fair that everyone should judge me when stuff like that went on."

Maradona scored his first international goal at Hampden in a 3-1 win at Hampden in 1979 and the Argentine great has fond memories of Glasgow.

"It's something that was very special to me. It was nice to start my international career and get my first goal here," he said.

"What I want to do in terms of repaying them(the fans) is hopefully put on a good spectacle tomorrow night.

"I feel great. I feel very good. It's a very, very proud moment for me to be heading up the Argentina national side."