Maradona fined for outburst

Al Wasl head coach Diego Maradona has been fined for verbally abusing another coach in the United Arab Emirates’ football league.

Maradona, who joined the side back in May, has had an ongoing feud with Al Ain coach Cosmin Olaroiu since losing 1-0 to the current league leaders back in November.

The former Argentinean head coach has definitely made his presence felt since arriving in Dubai.

Maradona has publicly criticised the referees in the league for being biased against his side, and also attacked a fan for intruding on a photo shoot.

In this latest incident Maradona has been fined 9,000 dirham – around 2500 US dollars – and warned by the UAE Football Association after he called Olaroiu “rude and impolite”.

He also claimed the coach and his players celebrated their winning goal against Al Wasl in the Emirates Cup in an “unprofessional manner”.

Olaroiu responded publicly to Maradona, addressing the coach’s previous substance abuse problems, saying:

“Maradona doesn’t always have a clear mind because of his life. I don’t take drugs. My life is clear. I don’t do anything,” Olaroiu said.

“Who is Maradona as a coach? He should respect his work and should never come to matches wearing shorts.”

Maradona has been tipped as a possible candidate to take over as the head coach of the UAE’s national side.

The team has lost three matches since Abdullah Misfir started his role as caretaker of the side in September.

Though Maradona refused to comment on whether or not he had been offered the role, he has said it would be possible for him to fulfil his duties with Al Wasl at the same time as taking charge of the national side.