Diego Maradona
/ AP Photo/Andres Cuenca
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina's Football Association is blaming the media for Diego Maradona's angry tirade on live television.
The AFA sent a formal report to FIFA dismissing Maradona's profanity-laced news conference in Uruguay as the natural result of tough questions from reporters. FIFA is investigating.
Maradona faces a possible five-game suspension and a fine of almost $20,000 if FIFA determines that he lowered himself "through acts or words ... in a way that undermines human dignity."
AFA attorney Hugo Pasos said Tuesday that the report says, "Maradona acted in a state of violent emotions because of confrontations with reporters in the days before the game."
He declined to provide more details, but Maradona has called it a "momentary outburst" caused by reporters who unfairly accused him of not working hard enough.
