GLASGOW, Scotland – Diego Maradona thinks it's time the English stopped complaining about the handball goal he scored against their team at the 1986 World Cup. After all, it's not as though England hasn't benefited from controversial decisions by a referee.

Maradona has been in Scotland preparing for his debut as Argentina coach but many British journalists are just as interested in his contribution to a 2-1 win over England 22 years ago.

Maradona famously punched the ball into the net for the opening goal of that quarterfinal victory – instantly becoming a hate figure in England and burnishing his image as a hero back home – but he said Tuesday that was no worse than England being awarded a dubious goal during its 1966 World Cup final win.

“England won a World Cup with a goal that was plain to see to everyone that it did not cross the line,” Maradona said. “So I don't think it is fair that people should judge me when stuff like that goes on.”

England beat Germany 4-2 in extra time in the '66 final, but was only awarded its crucial third goal upon the intervention of a linesman. German players insisted that Geoff Hurst's shot, which bounced down off the bar, never crossed the line and replays more than 40 years later are still inconclusive.

“He missed by that much,” Maradona said to laughter, holding his hands about a meter (yard) apart. “You didn't have action replays in those days.”

But not everyone is likely to appreciate the humor in Maradona's remarks.

Scotland assistant manager Terry Butcher was part of the England defense breached by Maradona at the 1986 World Cup and has already said he will not offer his opponent the traditional post-match handshake on Wednesday.

Maradona also beat Butcher twice in a weaving run before scoring Argentina's second goal in that win, but the defender was irked by what he saw as deliberate cheating and an initial insistence that nothing untoward had happened.

Not that Maradona is concerned.

“I'm not going to seek him out,” Maradona said through a translator. “I don't know why Butcher has taken this attitude. I don't quite understand. I will let Butcher get on with his life and I'll get on with mine.

“I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. If he doesn't shake my hand, I'll still be alive tomorrow.”