Argentine fans in a show match got angry when their soccer coach Diego Maradona, who had been supposed to feature in the match, did appear in the stadium but failed to play, the local daily La Nueva Rioja said on Thursday.

The fans gave whistles and even threw bottles into the field during the futsal match between Argentine and Uruguayan retired players.

La Nueva Rioja said that "Diego (Maradona) tried to calm down the situation with some gestures to the people, but it was not enough because the whistles and shouts continued".

The match took place in Argentina on Wednesday night and 3,000 people attended with aim to watch Maradona, who is one of the best soccer players in history.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2008)