The Times Diego Maradona banned from all football for two months
Diego Maradona, the Argentina head coach, has faced much criticism during his tenureBen Smith
Fifa has imposed a two-month worldwide football ban on Diego Maradona as punishment for his crude verbal assault on journalists in the aftermath of Argentina's qualification for the World Cup last month.
Within seconds of securing Argentina’s decisive 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Montevideo, Maradona was on the pitch inviting members of the often critical media to perform a lewd act — an invitation he repeated in front of the cameras minutes later.
Maradona, who apologised for his comments at the hearing in Zurich, has also been fined £14,800 for his outburst and his ban will run until January 15, 2010. Fifa's disciplinary committee, chaired by Marcel Mathier, said it had taken into consideration the 49-year-old's "sincere remorse" but stressed that any breach of this decision or any repetition of a similar incident would mean that stronger sanctions would have to be imposed in the future.
“To those who did not believe in us — and, ladies, forgive me — they can suck it, and keep on sucking it,” he said. “I am black or white, I’ll never be grey in my life.”
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“You lot take it up the a*** — if the ladies will pardon the expression,” he added. “This is for all Argentinians, except for the journalists. I would like to thank the team for giving me the privilege to lead Argentina to the World Cup. Thank you to the Argentinian people who had faith.
“This is for those who did not believe in the team and treated me like dirt — but we still qualified with honour. They will now have to accept this. I want to thank the players and fans — no one but them.”
Argentina are due to play an international friendly against the Czech Republic on December 16, although the match has yet to be confirmed. Maradona would miss this match should the game go ahead.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6917756.ece
BBC
Maradona banned for lewd outburst Maradona's outburst was broadcast live on television
Argentina coach Diego Maradona has been banned from football for two months by Fifa for his furious outburst after last month's victory over Uruguay.
Maradona, under pressure in the run-up to the match, directed an expletive-laden tirade, broadcast on live TV, at reporters and critics after the game.
The 1-0 win ensured Argentina qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The ban will run from 15 November to 15 January 2010, meaning his role as coach at the World Cup will not be affected.
He could, however, miss a home international friendly against the Czech Republic scheduled for 16 December, although the match has yet to be confirmed.
Maradona, who attended the three-hour disciplinary committee hearing in Zurich, was also fined £15,000.
606: DEBATE
He deserved it, due to his disgusting comments
RFPC
In a statement, Fifa said they had taken into consideration the "sincere remorse" shown by the Argentina head coach, who had flown from Madrid to Zurich after Argentina's 2-1 friendly loss to Spain on Saturday.
But football's governing body warned that a repetition of a similar incident would result in stronger sanctions being imposed in the future.
Following Maradona's outburst, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said there was "no alternative" but to ask the governing body's disciplinary committee to open a case.
Maradona, who as a player helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup, had been under pressure in the build-up to the Uruguay match.
Defeats against Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil and Paraguay had seriously undermined Argentina's attempts to qualify for South Africa.
Critics questioned Maradona's team selection, with 70 players called up for duty in 14 matches.
And his 13-month tenure has been marked by clashes with players, coaches, journalists and directors.
Less than a week after he took over from Alfio Basile, who resigned in October 2008, there was speculation Maradona would quit following the Argentina Football Association's (AFA) refusal to appoint former captain Oscar Ruggeri as assistant coach.
And influential playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme retired from the international scene, announcing he and the head coach did not live by "the same codes".
Maradona also upset 1986 World Cup-winning coach Carlos Bilardo.
It was envisaged that Bilardo, the AFA's technical director of national teams, would offer support to the inexperienced coach, but Maradona instead said the veteran should "stay up in the directors' box in suit and tie".
As a player, Maradona produced a series of stellar displays to guide Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup and then helped them reach the final, which they lost to Germany, four years later.
But his time as coach has included a 6-1 defeat in Bolivia and a 3-1 home loss to Brazil.
Going into the final two qualifying matches, a poll showed that the majority of Argentina fans thought Maradona was unfit to coach the national team.
But Argentina won both games to book their ticket to South Africa.
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