Maradona: Back in row

Sao Paulo, May 2: The former Argentina football star Diego Maradona has set off another cross-border row after wearing the shirt of hated rivals Brazil in a television advert.

In the commercial ? for a popular Brazilian fizzy drink called Guarana Antarctica ? the former World Cup winner is shown lining up for a match alongside Brazilian stars who include Ronaldo and Kaka.

He is wearing Brazil’s familiar yellow shirt and is singing the Brazilian national anthem.

Then he suddenly wakes from his nightmare and cries: “I must have drunk too much Guarana Antarctica.”

The advert caused a furore in Argentina, with hundreds of people calling talk shows to accuse Maradona of treason.

Maradona responded by saying he had no problem wearing the Brazilian colours.

The former Boca Juniors star, however, made it clear there were shirts he would never put on.

“I’ve worn Brazil shirts twice,” he said, “during the 1979 under-20 South American championships and in the 1990 World Cup, and I have no regrets.”

Maradona added: “The only shirt I would never wear is that of (Boca Juniors’ arch rival) River Plate.”