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 Abu Dhabi-based 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.
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