DUBAI: United Arab Emirates football club al-Wasl announced on Monday that Diego Maradona would remain as the team's coach despite a disappointing loss in the GCC Champions League final that forced the entire board of directors to resign. The loss had left many questioning whether the former Argentine great would remain in the UAE. But Wasl Club chairman Mohammad Ahmad bin Fahad dismissed reports that Maradona had resigned as a “mistake.” He said Maradona's future had not been discussed at the board meeting Sunday. “Maradona is the head coach of Al Wasl and has the complete authority for the program,” Bin Fahad said. “He will continue with us. There is no change in his position. The board of the club resigned last Thursday without explaining itself and Marwan bin Bayat, who had inked the two-year deal to bring Maradona to the UAE, led the exodus. The resignation sparked reports in the local media on Sunday that Maradona has been sacked. Maradona, currently on vacation in Argentina, endured a dismal season with Al Wasl with the club finishing 8th out of 12 teams. He had hoped to salvage the season by winning the GCC final. Al Wasl won the first leg 3-1 at Bahrain's Al Muharrah and fans packed the home stadium for the return leg expecting the club to win its first trophy of the season. But two players were booted from the match after they head-butted opposing players, and al-Wasl lost the match and the final.
