Diego Maradona has been banned from football for two months and fined around 16,500 Euros (£14,810) by Fifa after his sexually explicit rant that followed Argentina’s qualification for the World Cup finals tournament. The national coach appeared in person at the hearing in Zurich on Sunday to hear his punishment.
It is believed that the ruling means that the Argentina manager is forbidden from attending any football matches during the two month spell, meaning he will not be able to cast his eye over any candidates for his 2010 World Cup squad until January 15 next year. As such, his role as coach of Argentina at the 2010 World Cup will not be affected.
A statement from Fifa on Sunday outlined that Maradona was banned "from all football related activity". The 49-year-old apologised for his comments at the hearing in Zurich on Sunday, but was still hit with the ban, which is effective immediately.
Maradona had been charged by the governing body after an outburst at the press conference following Argentina’s 1-0 win over Uruguay in October. The team had struggled under the former-player’s stewardship but squeezed through after finishing fourth in the South American qualification table.
A belligerent Maradona had taunted journalists in a sexually explicit manner following the win, angry at the negative press his side had received in the build-up to the match. A sporting icon who had captained the national team to World Cup glory in 1986, the Argentine’s appointment as coach had been greeted with scepticism by many and mixed results have continued speculation about Maradona’s long-term future in the job.
The Argentina boss had refused to apologise for the outburst and told TV channel Canal 7 last month: "I was getting it off my chest and I dont regret it. I gave my mother a kiss on the forehead and told her 'If I was wrong I ask your forgiveness but nobody else'."
Fifa president Sepp Blatter had warned that the coach faced a heavy punishment for his outburst.
"According to article 58.a, anyone who harms the dignity of a person through acts or words can be punished," he said.
Maradona’s playing career was as controversial as it was successful and he is no stranger to disciplinary charges. During his time as a Napoli player, the attaching midfielder was banned from the game for 15 months after testing positive for cocaine. Fifa sent him home from the 1994 World Cup after he failed a drugs test and the player publicly voiced conspiracy theories concerning the governing body.
Maradona won an online poll conducted by Fifa to determine the “Player of the Century” in 2000 but the governing body then appointed a panel of judges who awarded the title to Pele. Both players were the jointly awarded the title. Fifa also refused to allow the Argentina Football Association to retire the number ten shirt in honour of the World Cup winning captain.
The Argentina legend had travelled directly to Zurich from Madrid after his team played Spain in a friendly on Saturday night. Spain won the match 2-1 with both goals coming from Xabi Alonso. Lionel Messi scored Argentina’s goal from the penalty spot.
