Diego Maradona, the Argentina coach, has been warned not to attempt to humiliate Fifa by trying to gain entry to the World Cup draw tomorrow evening.
Fabio Capello, the England manager, and another 30 national team coaches will be at the draw at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, but Maradona has been told he is not allowed to attend, having been banned by Fifa from all football activities for two months, until January 15, as punishment for his foul-mouthed outburst at journalists in the wake of Argentina’s qualification in October.
Rumours over the past 48 hours have suggested that Maradona might defy Fifa by flying to Cape Town and trying to gain entry to the draw — perhaps by applying for accreditation to attend in a media capacity, representing an Argentine television station.
A report in Italy even claimed that he had applied for accreditation through an alias and would turn up in disguise, in what would be a clear attempt to make a mockery of his suspension.
But J?rôme Valcke, the Fifa general secretary, said yesterday: “We have been very clear. If Diego Maradona asks for Fifa accreditation, no way. Maradona has been banned for all football activities by our disciplinary committee for two months.
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“We have heard some rumours that he could try to join the Argentina delegation, but I have sent a letter to tell him to be aware that he is banned. If Diego Maradona arrives now as a journalist for a media company, his accreditation will not be accepted. We cannot stop him flying to South Africa, but he will not attend the draw.”
That message was reinforced by Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the World Cup organising committee. “Maradona cannot come to South Africa and take part in the draw,” Jordaan said. “There are clear rules which prohibit this.”
The ban means that Maradona is not allowed to manage the Argentina team for their friendly match against the Czech Republic on December 12, with Fifa having also fined him £14,800 and warned 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”.