Ex City Boss To Snub Maradona

Last updated : 18 November 2008 By Covsupport News Service
Former Coventry City player and manager Terry Butcher is expected not to shake the hand of new Argentina manager tomorrow night when Scotland take on Argentina at Hampden Park.

Butcher is an assistant manager with the Scottish national side and has said that due to Maradona's actions during the game against England in 1986.

Said Butcher to the BBC: "No, I'll never forgive him. "But it's not about me, it's all about Scotland and playing against one of the best teams in the world.

"It's not nice when you lose a World Cup quarter-final under those circumstances. "I was selected for the drugs test with Gary Stevens and Kenny Sansom and ended up in the room with Maradona and two of his pals. Our World Cup was over and they were celebrating.

"It could have been a war-zone in there but it wasn't. I wasn't next to him, if I was I might have done something.

"It's very hard to forgive and forget in the circumstances. But it was 22 years ago.

"I think I'm 4-1 to get a red card in the tunnel - it would be the fist of Terry Butcher rather than the hand.

"I remember coming back in 1986 and moving from Ipswich to Glasgow and I think I saw more Argentina strips in Scotland than I did in Mexico.

"There's the side issue of Maradona coming to Scotland, where he is a hero, but, above all else, this is a fantastic match to look forward to.

Today, Maradona said that he was not going to lose any sleep over the matter. "I don't understand why Butcher has this attitude. "England won a World Cup with a goal that never crossed the line, so it's not fair that people should judge me.

"If people are fine with me, I'll greet them. "Let Butcher get on with his life and I'll get on with my life. "I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. If Butcher doesn't shake my hand, I'll still be alive tomorrow."