Diego Maradona clashes with fans

Diego Maradona was restrained by security staff as he confronted opposition fans in the stands on Thursday, angry at threats and abuse directed toward wives and girlfriends of his Al Wasl players. Maradona blasted fans as "cowards" on Thursday after he rushed from his dugout to the stands to rescue his girlfriend from an ugly confrontation, reports said. The Argentine legend had just seen his Al Wasl team lose 2-0 to Al Shabab in the UAE league when players' wives and girlfriends had to be escorted out of the Al Mamzar stadium. The trouble started, according to the reports, when Ciel, a Brazilian striker who had scored one of the goals, was targeted by Argentine supporters amongst Maradona's entourage. Al Shabab fans then unleashed insults in the opposite direction with Maradona's partner Veronica Ojeda and the girlfriend of Al Wasl player Juan Mercier caught up in the melee. As wives and girlfriends were escorted to their cars, Mercier's girlfriend tripped and fell down the stairs. "Some people are cowards. They only attack women and have no courage to confront men," Maradona said. "This is the first time I am upset with the fans. If they are angry with me they should know that I did it (climbed the stands) for my wife because someone was calling her names. They shouldn't be angry with me they should be angry with the people who did this. They are cowards, not real fans." Maradona has been involved in several contentious incidents since signing a two-year contract with the United Arab Emirates club in May. He has had run-ins with rival coaches and seen his goalkeeper banned for 17-games for slapping an opposition coach.