Maradona Out of Control

I was little surprised to read that FIFA are to investigate Argentina coach Diego Maradona after he directed a torrent of abuse towards journalists on live television.

One of the best players ever to grace a soccer pitch, the temperamental Maradona has struggled as a coach and many were shocked when he was given the national team job in November 2008. A dubious press gave him time despite mixed results but a 6-1 mauling away to Bolivia in April hastened criticism against the coach.

With results worsening, Maradona has resembled a volcano waiting to erupt, but his astonishing outburst against journalists after World Cup qualification with a 1-0 win against Uruguay on Wednesday was nonetheless unexpected.

• He suggested journalists engaged in two particular sexual acts, asking to be pardoned by the women in the press conference.
• He accused journalists of treating him like garbage.
• He accused journalists of not wanting the national team to qualify for the World Cup.
• He accused journalists of inventing stories he would quit if Argentina did not beat Uruguay.

This was a fascinating release of tension from "El Diego." Psychologists could have a field day analyzing these post-match quotes. Many would have expected relief to be Maradona's overriding emotion after qualification but it is typical of this most unstable of characters that his primary desire was to be vitriolic.

Perhaps Maradona is attempting to cultivate a siege mentality in the camp, a "them against us" attitude that has served Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson so well down the years. Maybe after a match that verged on the tedious, he felt obliged to give the gathered hacks more substantial content for their morning reports. Perhaps he just wanted to live up to his own hype.

Whatever the reason, such gutter talk has no place at the peak of the world game, and he deserves to be punished.

I have heard it said on more than one occasion that hiring Maradona as Argentina coach is akin to signing up Paul Gascoigne as England manager. Both were great players, but flawed geniuses lacking the temperament to make it as managers. The question, after the dog's dinner Maradona made of qualifying Argentina for the World Cup, is whether the Football Association will keep faith or appoint a coach without the baggage. Many in Argentina are praying for the latter.

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