Maradona banned two months

Maradona banned two months

Argentina's national soccer team coach Diego Maradona arrives at Zurich airport in Kloten November 15, 2009 to attend a disciplinary hearing. Argentina coach Diego Maradona was banned for two months and fined more than 24,000 U.S. dollars by FIFA on Sunday for a foul-mouthed rant last month.

GENEVA, Nov. 15 -- Argentina coach Diego Maradona was banned for two months and fined more than 24,000 U.S. dollars by FIFA on Sunday for a foul-mouthed rant last month.

Maradona was sanctioned after his outburst in an interview following his team beat Uruguay 1-0 to secure their berth in the 2010 South Africa World Cup in the last game of an 18-match South American qualifying campaign.

"The FIFA disciplinary committee...decided today to impose a two-month ban on taking part in any football related activity and a 25,000 CHF (about 24,630 dollars) fine on the head coach of Argentina Diego Maradona," a FIFA statement said.

Argentina's national soccer coach Diego Maradona reacts during their friendly soccer match against Spain at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, November 14, 2009.
(Reuters)