FIFA is to open a disciplinary investigation into Diego Maradona after the Argentinian coach's sexually-explicit, foul-mouthed rant following his team's qualification for the 2010 World Cup. “We've been left with no other option than to open a disciplinary investigation into the Argentinian team coach,” said Sepp Blatter, head of FIFA, football's world ruling body. Maradona rounded on his critics after Argentina's 1-0 win over Uruguay Wednesday, a victory which saw the two-time world champion squeeze nervously into next year's Finals in South Africa. The 48-year-old, a sporting icon in Argentina after skippering the 1986 World Cup winning team, enjoyed a honeymoon period at the start of his coaching reign before the knives began to be sharpened. He was widely pilloried for the record 6-1 World Cup qualifier defeat in Bolivia and his relationship with the country's soccer-obsessed sports media never recovered. Three more losses - against Ecuador, Brazil and Paraguay - threatened to dump Argentina out of the World Cup picture for the first time since 1970. Later Friday, Maradona apologized to the world's women, but refused to say sorry to journalists. “I apologize to women, to my mother, to Argentinian women, to Uruguayan women and to women throughout the world. But only to them, not the others,” Maradona told TyC Sports television. Blatter, who was in Cairo for the final of the under-20 World Cup, warned that Maradona might have fallen foul of FIFA regulations which could result in a fine of up to $29,400 and/or suspension. “According to article 58.a, anyone who harms the dignity of a person through acts or words can be punished,” said Blatter. “The case will go to the disciplinary committee and I cannot say anything else. It's a matter of jurisdiction for this committee.” Article 58.a states: “Anyone who offends the dignity of a person or group of persons through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory words or actions concerning race, color, language, religion or origin shall be suspended for at least five matches. “Furthermore, a stadium ban and a fine of at least 20,000 Swiss francs shall be imposed. If the perpetrator is an official, the fine shall be at least 30,000 Swiss francs.” Maradona's foul-mouthed rant at his growing army of media critics drew a scathing response Thursday. “A festival of rancour”, headlined La Nacion newspaper, which wrote that “Maradona was devoured by anger ... by a surplus of tension which finally exploded in the form of vindictive outbursts against journalists. “Provocative, insolent. These obscenities will go round the world, increasing the shame. The team continues to go to the dogs.” The country's biggest-selling newspaper, Clarin, blasted Maradona's outburst at the news conference. “On the night that he achieved his objective, instead of relaxing and savoring the moment, he vented his aggression.” In a survey, carried out by La Nacion's Internet edition Thursday, 79 percent of readers said the AFA should sack Maradona.
