'Blatter taught Platini to steal' - Maradona

The Argentine legend claims that they pretend to be separated while in fact they are always side by side

ROME: Former Argentina superstar Diego Maradona on Tuesday blasted FIFA president Sepp Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini, who is bidding to succeed the Swiss as head of world football, as two of a kind.

"I'm outside all that because someone called Blatter closed all doors on me," former Argentina great Maradona told Naples television station PiuEnne.

"But I'm not a thief. Blatter did a lot of harm to football and with Platini it's a farce. They pretend to be separated, one at FIFA and the other at UEFA, while in fact they were always side by side," said Maradona.

"The only thing Blatter could teach Platini was how to steal," added the 1986 World Cup winner.

Maradona, 54, added that he had an agreement with Prince Ali of Jordan, another candidate for the FIFA presidency on February 26.

"If he should win the election, I will be at his side as vice-president," added the former Napoli and Barcelona star."