Maradona given choice of venue for Brazil qualifier

BUENOS AIRES: Argentine coach Diego Maradona was granted the choice by soccer authorities on Monday to move September's World Cup qualifier against archrivals Brazil away from the River Plate stadium in Buenos Aires.

Maradona criticised the River Plate pitch before and after Argentina's last home qualifier, a laboured 1-0 win over Colombia in June, and said players had asked to move the game to the more compact Rosario Central stadium in Argentina's second city.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on its website (www.afa.org.ar) on Monday that world governing body FIFA had passed the smaller Rosario Central stadium as fit to host Argentina's qualifiers.