Maradona played down controversy over Argentina's first goal in a 3-1 victory against Mexico, when goalscorer Carlos Tevez was clearly offside, and claimed referees were as guilty for not protecting Messi as missing obvious offsides.
"Messi gets kicked around and the referee does not act," said Maradona. "I have lived that myself 20 years ago, when I was a player when you had three players on you."
Argentina will meet Germany in the quarter finals, after benefiting from an official's error of judgment to rank alongside the one which denied England's Frank Lampard in a game against Germany four hours earlier. Tevez was beyond all 11 Mexico players in the move leading to the goal, when there should have been at least two when the ball to him was played.
After the replay flashed up on the big screen angry Mexico players surrounded the Italian referee Roberto Rosetti and linesman Stefano Ayroldi but the goal stood as it was too late for the officials to change their mind.
Mexico went into meltdown and a defensive howler by Ricardo Osorio allowed Gonzalo Higuain to make it 2-0. It was Tevez who sewed the match up in brilliant fashion - and legitimately this time - early in the second half with Mexico left only to savour a stunning reply by Manchester United's new signing Javier Hernandez.
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