FIFA said that Diego Maradona, "a long-time critic of FIFA," has held talks in Paris with President Gianni Infantino, according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. FIFA said that the meeting was part of Infantino's plans to "involve top former players in making decisions on the future of the game," and added that the pair also discussed the "crisis in the administration of Argentine football." Maradona was a "frequent critic of Infantino's predecessor Sepp Blatter" and claimed that there was "a mafia" inside FIFA. The body said that the meeting in Paris last Friday had been "very positive and constructive." FIFA added that Maradona had "backed a joint mission" by FIFA and CONMEBOL which is visiting Argentina, where the Argentine FA is under investigation. A judge "has ordered a lawyer and an accountant to be installed at the AFA for three months to look at alleged irregularities in its management of match broadcasting funds." The order included "suspending a proposed AFA presidential election on June 30" (REUTERS, 6/14). In Buenos Aires, Julio Chiappetta reported the execs sent by FIFA to investigate the AFA's crisis arrived on Monday "and began meetings with AFA execs." The mission is led by Primo Corvaro, a specialist in sports law who in January intervened in "the crisis in the Honduran Federation." Also present is CONMEBOL Legal Dir Monserrat Jiménez (CLARÍN, 6/13). CLARÍN reported less than 24 hours before arriving in Argentina, Maradona "ruled out intervention by the Argentine government." He said, "[Argentine President Mauricio] Macri has no chance to intervene in the AFA. Let him be concerned with the country, with giving people food. We can worry about football. Football has nothing to do with politics" (CLARÍN, 6/13).
