EL SALVADOR: Soccer great Diego Maradona tells Mexican President Vicente Fox to stand up to the U.S.

Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona chided Mexican President Vicente Fox on Friday (October 27) for not standing up to the U.S. "It's a shame, a shame," he said talking about the U.S. decision to construct a 700-mile (1,126 km) fence along the U.S.-Mexican border to combat illegal immigration. "The Mexicans should tell him (President Vicente Fox), 'Remember when you talked about Maradona? That he was this or that?" said to journalists at a news conference in El Salvador. "Fox should do something so the Americans stop killing Mexicans like flies along the fence, that famous fence, along that famous border. Instead of talking about Maradona, Fox should defend the Mexicans, that he allows them to be killed like flies along the border with the United States. And Fox needs to be clear: If he spoke about Maradona, I too can speak about him because I pay my taxes. I have no problem; I'll say it to his face." Maradona arrived to San Salvador late on Thursday to play in a series of friendly soccer matches known as "Showbol." The match is scheduled for October 28 in San Salvador's Monumental Stadium. The bearded Maradona was arriving from Honduras where he met with directors from Honduras's soccer federation, however, he downplayed reports that he was there to accept a coaching position.

ITN Source | October 28, 2006

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