Why I just want to remember Maradona the player

I always hesitate to criticise Diego Maradona because he was probably the best footballer I have seen in my lifetime. For that very reason he is a hero of mine and millions of others.

Flawed

Despite that, he is, at best, a flawed genius. We all know about his drug taking past and we have all wondered about his health both physical and mental. Since he was given the job of managing the Argentina national team he has done little to remove those worries.

The fact is that he has taken Argentina to the World Cup and has therefore achieved all that it has been possible for him to do. The reality is that he has not appeared to be up to the job and he is almost certainly not the right man to lead them in the finals.

Furious

After the game in Uruguay that finally sealed Argentina’s qualification Maradona indulged in a furious outburst on live television. He went on an amazing rant in which he used many expletives and upset just about everyone who was unfortunate enough to hear it. He had been under a great deal of pressure prior to the game and he must have been a very relieved man after it. None of that excused the disgusting behaviour he then produced.

As a result of that outburst at reporters and his critics, Maradona has now been banned from football for two months by FIFA.

Possible

The ban will run from yesterday until 15th January next year. The only match this means Maradona will miss is a possible friendly on 16th December against the Czech Republic in a game that is yet to be confirmed. It will not affect his coaching of the side in relation to the World Cup at all. Maradona was also fined £15,000.

FIFA said they had taken Maradona’s “sincere remorse” into consideration in arriving at their decision. They warned that a repetition of a similar incident would result in a stronger punishment.

Nothing

My first reaction to the news was that FIFA had acted very strongly and impressively. However, I then looked at what it meant in reality. It is hardly any punishment at all. The fine won’t be noticed by him and the ban means nothing. FIFA have tried to look tough but actually displayed no teeth whatever.

The remorse that Maradona showed was to apologise to any women who heard what he said but not to apologise for what he actually said. That doesn’t sound like “sincere remorse” to me.

Weak

I do not want people to be punished for nothing but FIFA have sent a very weak message with this “non-punishment”. Maradona was totally out of order and FIFA should have dealt with this incident in a much more firm manner.

I loved the skills of Maradona and he gave me and other football fans around the world a great deal of pleasure, but that memory is devalued on a regular basis by a man who should not be involved in the game any more.

I would love to remember Maradona the player rather than the rather sad figure that we know see.