Intro:

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona displayed a middle finger gesture live on Venezuelan television on Saturday (21 June).

Script:

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has hit the headlines in South America, after displaying a middle finger gesture live on TV.

Maradona was responding to being called a "bad luck charm" by Argentina's Football Association President, Julio Grondona.

Grondona had labelled Maradona a jinx after the former World Cup winner left the stadium just before Messi scored Argentina's winning goal against Iran.

And Maradona's response to the jibe came live on Venezuelan television, following an animation of Messi's goal.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Diego Maradona, Former Argentine football star:
"Argentina's victory was thanks to Lionel Messi, not because I left. But I want to tell Julio Grondona, who made those comments, that the clothes I have on my back, I bought them through hard work. What he has on, he got it from FIFA. And I'll end it here.

Argentina now face Nigeria on Wednesday in their final Group Game.