JOHANNESBURG - Diego Maradona made a public apology to Michel Platini but not Pele at the World Cup on Thursday after hitting back at his fellow greats after media reports that they had criticized his coaching ability.

"I want to send my apologies, through you (reporters) to Mr Platini ... but not Pele," Maradona told a news conference after producing a letter he said was from the French UEFA president.

"The other day I spoke about Mr Platini. Mr Platini sent me a letter saying he never said what you (reporters) told me he had said," said Maradona after his Argentina team's 4-1 win over South Korea in Group B at Soccer City.