No Argentina No 10 shirt in Japan, and perhaps no Maradona either

Diego Maradona’s famous number 10 shirt will not be in the next World Cup in Japan, but neither will he, unless his travel visa comes through soon. Maradona, who led Argentina to the World Cup victory in Mexico in 1986, is barred by law from entering Japan due to a drug offence in 1991, and he is waiting to find out whether an exception will be made, his agent Guillermo Coppola said to the press on Wednesday.

“It is a shame about Japan”, Coppola said. “They let in people who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima and yet they won’t let Diego in.” However, the Embassy in Buenos Aires has not answered yet and there is still a chance for Maradona to attend to the World Cup.

Diego Maradona was arrested for taking cocaine in April 1991, shortly after returning to Argentina from Italy, when he played for the Napoli football team.

Maradona has been contracted by a Mexican TV channel and newspaper to cover the tournament from Japan.

Argentina’s number 10 shirt will not be making an appearance when the squad embark on their quest for a third World Cup triumph, after FIFA authorized the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to drop the shirt in honour of Maradona. Coach Marcelo Bielsa’s official 23 man team had the players numbered from one to 24 without number 10.

Hernan Etchaleco PRAVDA.RU Argentina