FIFA World Cup 2018: Diego Maradona responds to ‘racist gesture’ claim, says sorry for smoking

Diego Maradona has responded to the allegations that he made racial gestures to an Asian fan during a World Cup game in Moscow. 

The Argentine football legend has given his version of the exchange with the fan during the match between Argentina and Iceland.

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.

Maradona, who is an official FIFA ambassador and attended the game in a VIP section as part of a group of former players, shared a message on his facebook page. 

The message posted early Sunday in Spanish, English and Italian tried to explain the incident. 

"I understand better than anyone that in the World Cup people are looking for news everywhere," Maradona wrote, adding that he saw "an Asian boy wearing an Argentina T-shirt."

"I, from afar, tried to tell them how nice it seemed to me that even the Asians cheer for us. And that's all, guys, come on."

Maradona also apologised on Facebook for smoking a cigar, despite a FIFA ban on smoking at World Cup stadiums.

"Everyone has their way of feeling things," he wrote, citing tension at the game as the reason for him smoking. "I honestly did not know that no one can smoke in the stadiums."

(With Agency Inputs)