Maradona could face five-match ban for outburst

Diego Maradona could face a suspension of up to five matches for an obscenity-filled outburst at a news conference after Argentina's World Cup qualifying win over Uruguay, FIFA Sepp Blatter said.

"We are now opening a disciplinary case against the Argentine coach and now it's up the relevant party in FIFA -- the FIFA disciplinary committee -- to enforce it," said a FIFA spokesman, confirming the announcement made earlier by Blatter in Cairo.

The sanction could go from a simple warning to several games, the spokesman said.

Maradona, relieved at Argentina's last-gasp qualification for the 2010 finals after a 1-0 win over Uruguay in Montevideo, used bad language when he hit out at critics who had questioned his coaching ability.

His comments were broadcast live on several television stations.