UAE Football Association President
YOUSUF AL-SERKAL believes
DIEGO MARADONA "should have been given more time" to turn around his Al Wasl club, according to the AP. Al-Sarkal said that "one year was not enough to elevate the Dubai club" and that the club's "failure to win any trophies and its eighth-place finish in the 12-team league cannot be solely blamed on Maradona." He acknowledged that Maradona "often hurt himself with his antics off the field." Among the incidents, Maradona kicked the hand of a fan, was accused by a coach of being disrespectful for the way he celebrated a goal and charged into the stands to confront Al Shabab fans who were "taunting his partner" and the wives of several players. During the last incident he had "to be restrained by security staff" (
AP, 7/11). GLOBO ESPORTE reported that Maradona learned of his dismissal from the club "through the Internet" (
GLOBO ESPORTE, 7/11).