SPORTS BRIEFS - Maradona bashes Pele

• Maradona bashes Pele

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP):

Diego Maradona made stinging comments about fellow football greats Pele and Michel Platini yesterday after the pair criticised his performance as Argentina coach. Asked about the criticism from two others considered among the greatest players of all time, Maradona said he was not surprised by their comments.

"Pele has to go back to the museum," Maradona said.

"Regarding Platini, I always had a very distant relationship with him - hello and goodbye. We know how the French are and Platini is French and he thinks of himself as being more than the rest of the world. I've never paid him any attention and I won't do it now."

Earlier, Maradona had criticised Pele for doubting Africa's ability to organise a World Cup. Asked about Brazil, Maradona said that Argentina's fierce South American rival had not been tested by North Korea in the 2-1 win on Tuesday.

"Brazil played a relaxed game, too relaxed," Maradona said. "Korea never challenged them. For (goalkeeper) Julio Cesar, it would have been the same to shower or not after the game.

"Brazil is Brazil ... and Dunga has done a good job. When more will be demanded of them, they will play better for sure."

• Deco friction?

MAGALIESBURG, South Africa (AP):

Portugal midfielder Deco has issued a public statement denying any friction with coach Carlos Queiroz at the World Cup. Deco was critical of Queiroz's tactics and substitutions after Portugal's 0-0 draw with Cte d'Ivoire in Group G on Tuesday, saying they were "strange" and "not as good as they might have been".

In a statement posted on the Portuguese Football Federation's website yesterday, Deco distanced himself from those views. He says he expressed his opinions "in the heat of the moment" and had not intended to question Queiroz's leadership.

• Buffon 'disc'

IRENE, South Africa (AP):

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been diagnosed with a herniated disc, putting his World Cup at risk. Team physician Enrico Castellacci said yesterday that the recovery period would "not be brief" adding that it was impossible to set a specific return date. Buffon exited after the first half of Italy's 1-1 draw with Paraguay on Monday and was replaced by backup Federico Marchetti. He underwent an MRI at a hospital in Pretoria yesterday.

• Request denied

POLOKWANE, South Africa (AP):

FIFA has turned down a request from France to replace their injured goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso. Carrasso tore his left hamstring in training on Monday and the French Football Federation hoped to be able to replace him by asking FIFA for special consideration. Normally players are not able to replaced once the tournament has started unless FIFA agrees it is a special case.

• Australia plea

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

Australia have asked FIFA for leniency over Tim Cahill's red card against Germany in a bid to have him back for their third group game against Serbia. Cahill will receive an automatic one-match ban covering Saturday's game against Ghana, but FIFA can increase the penalty.

The document the Aussies sent includes a statement from Bastian Schweinsteiger, the German player fouled by Cahill. Schweinsteiger approached a tearful Cahill in the mixed zone following the match and told Cahill the red card was undeserved.