The UAE’s Football Association (UAEFA) has fined Al Wasl coach Diego Maradona AED9,000 ($2,450) for his comments about a rival team’s manager.
The Disciplinary Committee of the UAEFA said in a statement that Al Wasl’s Argentinean coach has been cautioned and fined for abusing Al Ain’s Romanian manager Cosmin Olaroiu.
Maradona said he accepted the fine, but vowed not to mend his ways.
“I’ll continue to make criticisms at press conferences. I will not stop until my club, Al Wasl, gets its rights,” he told reporters.
Following his team’s loss to Al Ain, Maradona called Olaroiu disrespectful after the rival coach and his staff directed their celebrations at him.
In the Arab world, calling someone impolite is considered a serious offence.
Maradona has been coaching Al Wasl since May under a two-year contract.
On Thursday, Maradona said he would accept a position as UAE national team “with pleasure” if he was offered the position.
The Argentinean has been tipped as a possible replacement for Srecko Katanec who was fired in September, newswire AP reported.
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