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Iraqi FA rubbishes Maradona reports

ESPN staff
December 21, 2012
Diego Maradona has been linked with the Iraq job © Getty Images
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The Iraqi Football Association have denied that they are lining up Diego Maradona to become their next manager.

Reports emerged on Thursday claiming that the former Argentinian World Cup winner and manager would take over the 92nd ranked team in world football.

"We received the offer and contacted Diego, who accepted it," an agent for World Eleven, Hernan Tofoni, told the website canchallena.com.

But in a conversation with The Associated Press the Iraqi FA have distanced themselves from the speculation.

"There is no negotiation between Iraqi Football Association with Diego Maradona and it doesn't have any intention to hire him,'' deputy IFA head Abdul-Khaliq Masoud said.

Buenos Aires daily newspaper La Nacion had also reported that Maradona, who was fired in July as the coach of Dubai club Al Wasl, was close to signing a deal with Iraq.

Former Brazil international Zico resigned as Iraq's coach in November, saying the country's football association had failed to abide by the terms of his contract.

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