Buenos Aires, June 23: Argentina's greatest footballer Diego Maradona on Sunday slammed the statements of the president of Argentine Football Association (AFA) Julio Grondona, who had said that Maradona was a bad luck to the national team.

Maradona said Grondona was a "poor stupid" for saying that the national team had scored a goal against Iran just after Maradona left the stadium, reports Xinhua.

"I left before the end of the first half. Somebody (referring to Grondona) said the goal had been possible because I had left the stadium. Poor stupid. The goal was a merit to 'Leo' Messi and not a result of my absence," said Maradona.

Maradona, 53, on Saturday attended Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, where Argentina defeated Iran 1-0 with a goal scored by Messi in the 91st minute.

Maradona: Goal was a merit to 'Leo' Messi and not a result of my absence

According to press reports, Grondona said the goal was possible just after Maradona had left the stadium.

"After 'Bad Luck' left, we won," said Grondona. In his local TV show "De Zurda", Maradona answered: "I want to tell Grondona that what I have, I earned it with my work, and what he wears FIFA bought it."

Grondona has led AFA since 1979.

Maradona was the coach of Argentina in South Africa 2010, where the team were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Germany with a 4-0 score.

When he left the team, he made harsh criticism against Grondona.

IANS