Captain Horace Burrell

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa:

The humility displayed by Argentina football coach Diego Maradona made a telling impression on FIFA's disciplinary committee and subsequently a softer penalty, following his tirade at journalists after a World Cup qualifying match.

Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and a member of FIFA's disciplinary committee made the disclosure at a Jamaica team training session on Monday night at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

"Mr Maradona, who was accompanied by a team of four legal counsel, came and was extremely humble," Burrell pointed out. "He humbled himself and after the charges were read, he was extremely apologetic, he was repentant, he was very remorseful and rather subdued."

The Argentine, one of the game's best players ever, was charged with hurling abusive language during the post-match press conference against journalists whom he felt were hard on him leading up to the game, as his team was struggling and in danger of not qualifying for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.

Pleaded guilty

"Based on coach Maradona's behaviour at a post-game press conference and the many unsavoury comments he made, he was requested, first of all, by the disciplinary committee to furnish a report to FIFA's disciplinary committee and explain his behaviour," said Burrell.

He added that Maradona had only been summoned to the hearing because "the disciplinary committee was far from satisfied from the response that Maradona tendered."

"During the meeting the charges were read out and Mr Maradona pleaded guilty to the charges," said Burrell.

"The disciplinary committee was heartened by his approach and also we were touched by the sincerity of his apologies and he has vowed not to behave in this manner again as the occasion had got the better of him," Burrell divulged.

"After his punishment was handed down, he reacted with humility and walked around the room and shook hands with each member of the committee and exchanged pleasantries and vowed not to do it again."

Maradona was fined 25,000 Swiss francs (approximately US$24,000) and suspended from all football-related activities for a period of two months, commencing November 15.