Buenos Aires, Oct 18 (DPA) A newly released video showed Argentina football coach Diego Maradona making obscene gestures after Wednesday’s key game even as controversy swirled over his verbal remarks after that match against Uruguay.
The film raised even higher the likelihood that football’s world governing body, FIFA, will take disciplinary steps against the fabled 1986 world champion footballer.

The video released Saturday was taken right after Wednesday’s 1-0 high pressure win against Uruguay in Montevideo that rescued Argentina - and Maradona’s reputation - for play in the 2010 World Cup.

On Friday, Maradona refused to take back crude comments he made to reporters after the game when he lashed out at their pre-game criticism of his capabilities as a coach. The historic football nation had lost a series of qualifiers and stood to lose a place in South Africa if it hadn’t won Wednesday night.

“I don’t forget things: those who did not believe, those who did not believe - may the ladies excuse me - let them suck my dick,” an angry Maradona said in Montevideo. “I am either white or black, I am never going to be grey in my life. You treated me like you treated me.”

On Friday, Maradona told Argentine sports TV channel TyC Sports that he would “not take it back”.

However, he accepted criticism to some extent.

“I won’t do it again, I won’t repeat it,” he said. “I apologize to my mother and to women around the world.”

In other comments, he said his rude comments were the result of “a very great relief after a week with a lot of criticism”.

“I don’t have to apologize. (Reporters) looked anti-Argentinian, and I will not forgive them. They wanted Argentina to be left out of the World Cup,” Maradona told radio Continental.

FIFA president Joseph Blatter indicated the matter would be investigated by a disciplinary committee, US sports broadcaster ESPN reported.

“The reports we have received so far leave us no other alternative but to ask the disciplinary committee of FIFA to open a case against… Maradona,” Blatter was quoted as saying.