Maradona is said to earn around $13,000 plus expenses for any event he attends as a FIFA ambassadorGETTY IMAGES
Diego Maradona’s role as a paid ambassador for FIFA has "come under scrutiny following his boorish behaviour at the World Cup" in Russia, according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. FIFA is "understood to have taken note of Maradona’s latest antics" during Argentina’s victory over Nigeria yesterday, but the governing body "would not comment on whether they would have any impact on his official duties." Maradona, who is said to earn around $13,000 plus expenses for "any event he attends" in his capacity as a FIFA ambassador, reacted to Argentina D Marcos Rojo’s game-winning goal yesterday "with a double one-finger salute." He also "appeared the worse for wear" while watching the game in an executive box at St. Petersburg Stadium, before "suffering what he said was a brief fainting episode that required medical attention." Maradona was not on the official FIFA VIP list for yesterday’s match or for Argentina’s World Cup opener against Iceland, at which he "was seen smoking a cigar at the non-smoking Spartak Stadium." He was forced to apologize for that and to "explain an incident in which he was accused of pulling his eyes to the side while looking in the direction of South Korean fans." Maradona is the only one of FIFA’s group of "so-called 'legends' who is a general ambassador" for the organization (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 6/27).
