Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has called off his trip to the World Cup finals as the Japanese government refused to grant him a visa because of his past drug record, a press report said today.
Maradona, 41, told a Chilean television network on Friday that he would instead stay in Cuba during the month-long tournament to be co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, according to Jiji Press news agency.
"I won't go to the World Cup. South Korea has invited me but Japan has not accepted me for personal reasons," he was quoted as saying.
Maradona, the hero of Argentina's victory in the 1979 world youth championships in Japan, had planned to serve as a commentator for a Mexican television station on World Cup matches.
In principle, Japan does let in people who have been criminally charged with drug problems.
In 1991, the Italian Football Federation suspended Maradona for 15 months for testing positive for cocaine and he was arrested in Argentina for cocaine use.
In 1994, Maradona was prevented from entering Japan as captain of the Argentine side for a friendly match against Japan just before the World Cup finals in the United States.
His visa application was also rejected in late 2000 when he tried to attend the Inter-Continental Cup final between South American champions Boca Juniors of Argentina and European champions Real Madrid of Spain.
AFP