Buenos Aires - Carlos Bilardo has been put in charge of Argentina's national team in the absence of Diego Maradona, who is in Italy attending a spa, the national football federation said Tuesday.

Bilardo, who led Argentina to the 1986 title and is currently assistant to Maradona, will prepare the squad until the coach's expected return next week.

The under-fire Maradona is believed to be trying to lose weight, but his absence comes at a crucial time for the national side which is struggling to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

The federation said the 48-year-old former playing great was attending the spa on his doctor's advice. Maradona suffered serious ill health and weight gain after retiring from football, and in 2005 had a stomach stapling operation to help control his weight problem.

Argentina football federation media director Ernesto Cherquis Bialo confirmed to German Press Agency dpa that federation president Julio Grondona had asked Bilardo to take charge in Maradona's absence.

Bilardo will start preparing for a key World Cup qualifier against Peru on October 10 and for a friendly international against Ghana on September 30.

The measure was described as an "organizational issue and not a footballing one." Despite his absence, Maradona will continue to be in charge of decisions relating to the squad.

"It is a temporary measure so that we can continue working," Bialo said.

Maradona is attending the spa in Merano, northern Italy on his doctor's advice and was expected by Argentinian officials to return by September 23.

"We need a healthy and strong Maradona so he can give the list of players on September 25," he said.

According to Italy's ANSA news agency, quoting the Hotel Palace, which hosts the Henri Chenot health clinic, Maradona arrived on Tuesday on a two-week weight-losing programme.

Argentine media reports said Maradona's trip to Italy had been planned a month ago in expectation of positive results in Argentina's last few matches.

However the two-time world champions have now slipped to fifth in the South American qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, a place below the automatic qualification slots, after four defeats in their last five games.

By leaving Argentina he has avoided a meeting scheduled Monday involving Bilardo and Grondona, in which the federation president had wanted to delegate more responsibility to Bilardo, it was reported. (dpa)