Diego Maradona handed new Fifa role… with controversial Argentina legend to clean corruption from football
World Cup winner has a sketchy past that includes drug binges and shooting journalists with an air rifle
DIEGO MARADONA has a new role at Fifa - 'to work for a clean and transparent football.'
The controversial Argentinean announced the news of his new job on his Facebook page.
He wrote: "Now it's official. Finally I can fulfil one of the lifelong dreams; to work for a clean and transparent Fifa alongside people who really love football.
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"Thanks to all who have encouraged me to face this new challenge!"
Football's international governing body has been marred in recent years of corruption and bribery - with former shamed president Sepp Blatter undergoing an eight-year ban from the sport.
Maradona has been highly critical of Blatter and Michel Platini in the past but will now help battle corruption alongside current President Gianni Infantino.
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But it is set to spark outrage in some quarters with doubt over Maradona's suitability for the role.
A brilliantly gifted footballer who won the World Cup in 1986, the 56-year-old has endured drug addictions and was even handed a suspended jail sentence in 1998 for shooting journalists with an air rifle.
A Fifa spokesman said Maradona would join 'in recognition of his outstanding and unique contribution to football.'