Ex Socceroo Ned Zelic Responds to Maradona's Explosive Claims of Argentinian Doping in WC'94 Playoff
23 May 2011
Upping the ante in his long-running, increasingly bitter feud with AFA President Julio Grondona, Diego Maradona has come out with some shocking allegations regarding systematic doping in the Argentina setup during his playing days.
While promising he has plenty more dirt to divulge, Maradona’s initial revelations centre around the playoff between Argentina and Australia’s Socceroos for a place in the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
The tie was played over two legs. The first, held at the Sydney Football Stadium on October 31, 1993, ended in a 1-1 draw, with goals from Aurelio Vidmar for the home side, and Abel Balbo for the visitors. The second leg in Argentina’s Monumental stadium on November 17th was another tight match, eventually decided by Alex Tobin’s second half own goal which gave Argentina a 1-0 win.
The fact that the playoff was such a closely fought affair adds extra spice to Maradona’s claims this week in the local press. Grondona’s sly dig at ‘El Diego’s’ past drug problems was the catalyst.
“I’m old but healthy,” said the AFA chief. “Not like others who are not that way. And not because of natural problems but because of created problems.”
This prompted Maradona’s first barrage of claims during an interview which appeared in the Clarín newspaper on May 22nd. After threatening to “stamp on the heads” of Grondona, his son and all of his grandchildren and announcing his intention to start court proceedings against him, he went on to accuse AFA and Grondona of complicity regarding doping.
“Did you know that there were no anti-doping tests carried out in the Argentina-Australia tie [the World Cup qualifying playoff in 1993]?” said Maradona.
“Because Argentina wouldn’t have made it to the World Cup. That’s just one of the many ‘little pearls’ I have to tell to the courts,” he said.
The former number 10 reiterated these explosive comments in a phone interview with the television program ‘El Show del Fútbol’ on Sunday night.
“They put something in our coffee to help us run more. Grondona knew this. To play against Australia they gave you a ‘fast coffee’,” said Maradona.
"We took whatever the team doctor gave us. We would have taken orange juice if it meant getting to the World Cup."
“Grondona told us there would be no anti-doping controls. You’d have to be an arsehole to do ten drug tests then during the game where qualification is on the line there is no test. Grondona knew this,” said Maradona.
Grondona is yet to respond to Maradona's sensational claims.
However former Socceroo midfielder, Ned Zelic, who played in the Sydney leg of the tie before missing the second match through injury, says the allegations came as a complete surprise to him.
"Not for one second did I suspect that any player from Argentina was under the influence of performance enhancing drugs. Nor was it mentioned in the squad," the ex Borussia Dortmund player told AFW.
With players of the calibre of Fernando Redondo, Gabriel Batistuta and Maradona himself on the teamsheet, Zelic says that Argentina should have been confident in their own abilities, though there may have been an air of nervousness in the squad.
"Sure,they had some good players, but so did we -- many playing in the top leagues in Europe," said Zelic.
"I'm sure Argentina knew we wouldn't be an easy opponent. Diego was coming back from a long suspension. Plus the fact that they had finished 5th in their group - and the bad loss to Colombia must have sent some panic through their ranks. But I still think Argentina would have had enough confidence in their ability and pride to not try and gain an unfair advantage."
"But who knows now with Diego's comments?" he said.
Asked if he found any consolation in Maradona's assertion that had there been drug testing, Argentina would not have qualified -- with the obvious implication that Australia would have -- Zelic's response was resigned.
"It would be a disgrace if true, but Diego saying that does not bring back appearances at USA '94 for our team," said the man regarded as one of the Socceroos' best ever.
"If it were true, it would make us look back on our exceptional performances against a world power in football, and would make our efforts even more impressive than they were," he said.
Could doping have made a difference in an extremely close-run tie?
"It was very tight over two games," said Zelic.
"It definitely could have gone our way if we reduced a few errors and taken our chances. Argentina playing the second leg at home was a slight advantage. That, and a lot more experience in big games was the telling factor in the end."
"Still would have been deserved though if we had qualified. It was that close between the two teams."
by Daniel Colasimone
