Maradona fumes over 42-degree Olympic final heat

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — Diego Maradona claimed on Saturday it was "inhuman" to play the Olympic Games men's football final in temperatures recorded at a sizzling 42 degrees Celsius.

"It's inhuman. The players can't breathe and it's difficult to run. The heat is unbearable," said the Argentine football legend as the South Americans beat Nigeria 1-0 to defend their Olympic title in a game which kicked off at 12:00 (0400GMT).

The match, which was played at the "Bird's Nest" national stadium, kicked off early so that the venue could be prepared for the night's athletics programme. It was halted twice to allow the players to drink water.

Nigerian coach Samson Siasia said it was wrong to play the final, with FIFA president Sepp Blatter watching from the stands, in such...