Diego Maradona does not deny making racist gesture to South Korean fans at World Cup in Russia
World Cup winner had been accused by BBC journalist of ‘pulling his eyes to the side’ in a move that shocked onlookers in Moscow
British television staff working in Spartak Stadium during Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Iceland on Saturday reported seeing Maradona respond to South Korea fans calling his name.
Maradona “obliged with a smile, kiss and wave. Then pulled his eyes to the side in a clearly racist gesture”, broadcaster Jacqui Oatley posted on Twitter. A second British broadcaster wrote she also saw the incident.
The Argentina great is an official Fifa ambassador and attended the game in a VIP section as part of a group of former players branded as “Fifa Legends”.
On Maradona’s Facebook account , a message was posted early Sunday in Spanish, English and Italian seeking to explain the incident, which seemed to break Fifa anti-discrimination rules.