Argentine coach Diego Maradona arrived in South Africa on Monday, just days after the end of his two-month suspension from all football activities for his sexually explicit rant at journalists.
The foul-mouthed former great waved and blew kisses at reporters who waited for him at the airport, saying only “Gracias, gracias” from behind his large sunglasses.
He left the airport under police escort. Later on Monday he was due to inspect the facilities at the University of Pretoria, where Argentina will set up base camp during the World Cup, less than five months away.
During his five-day trip, Maradona is also expected to visit several South African schools as well as Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium, which will host the opening and the final matches of the World Cup.
World Cup organisers insist that the sporting icon who skippered the 1986 World Cup-winning team will not speak to media during his trip.
Maradona lost his cool with journalists following Argentina’s 1-0 qualifying win over Uruguay in October, telling them to “suck it and keep sucking it”.
Fifa in November suspended him from all football activities for two months, preventing Maradona from attending the draw in Cape Town last month. — AFP