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, which means he will miss the World Cup draw on 4 December. He could also miss a home international friendly against the Czech Republic scheduled for 16 December at a so-far unspecified venue, though his role as coach at the World Cup will not be affected.
Maradona, who attended the three-hour disciplinary committee hearing in Zurich, was also fined £15,000.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.
Source: BBC
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