Maradona loses cool and kicks out at fan in Dubai

Dubai: Diego Maradona, whose latest role in a turbulent career is coaching the United Arab Emirates club side Al-Wasl, was under scrutiny on Friday after kicking out at a fan in Dubai.

A video posted on YouTube showed Argentina`s 1986 World Cup winning captain attempting to pose for a pre-match photo-shoot in front of a banner hanging on the wire mesh separating fans from the pitch. After shooing away some over-enthusiastic supporters who tried to approach him, Maradona appeared to grow annoyed at a fan who persistently lifted the banner from behind. Eventually he kicked the fan`s hand away with a touch that was light but, in an Arab culture that holds feet to be dirty, could have caused offence. Maradona apologised to the fan according to local media. Al- Wasl went on to win the game against promoted Emirates 3-0 in the second round of the Etisalat Cup. "I am emotional, this is my nature. I`ve always been like this as a player and coach. Sometimes I feel like I`m a player of al-Wasl," he was quoted as saying in a sports website. Maradona, one of the world`s greatest ever players, has often endured problems on and off the pitch, including arrests, suspensions and spells in rehab. He joined al-Wasl earlier this year after losing his job as Argentina`s national coach when they were beaten 4-0 by Germany in the quarter finals of the World Cup last year. Bureau Report