Diego Maradona Confronts ‘Coward’ Fans in Dubai: Soccer Legend's Five Maddest Moments Caught On Film [VIDEO]

Soccer legend Diego Maradona is back in the headlines after angrily confronting opposition fans during a league match in Dubai.

The Argentinian hero, on the sidelines managing the United Arab Emirates Pro League side Al Wasl, mounted the stands to protect his own wife as well as the wives and girlfriends of his players who were allegedly being subjected to abuse by supporters of the home side, Al Shabab. The visitors were losing 2-0 at the time.

Some people are cowards, Maradona said to Gulf News. They only attack women and have no courage to confront men.

This is the first time I am upset with the fans, he continued. If they are angry with me they should know that I did it [climbed the stands] for my wife because someone was calling her names.

They shouldn't be angry with me they should be angry with the people who did this. They are cowards, not real fans.

The wives and girlfriends were subsequently rushed from the stadium in Al Mamzar by police and players, with Maradona escorting his own spouse, Veronica Ojeda.

One of the player's partners, that of Juan Mercier reportedly fell down the stairs in the rush to exit, according to Gulf News, though no one is thought to have been injured, report BBC Sport.

Maradona took over at Al Wasl last May on a two-year contract after a spell leading his country into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

This is not the first time that Maradona has been involved in controversy since his lucrative move to the Emirates. On more than one occasion he has launched tirades against referees and also clashed with rival managers.

Only earlier this month the goalkeeper for Maradona's club Al Wasl, Majid Naser was banned for 17 matches for slapping Al Alhi boss Quique Sanchez Flores.

But none of these incidents match-up to some of El Diego's most memorable moments during the very public life of perhaps the greatest player in history.

Here's a look at five of the best.

The Hand of God and the Goal of a God

Maradona's career was arguably summed up perfectly in the space of four minutes during Argentina's 1986 World Cup quarter-final with England. In the 51st minute, Maradona jumped to contest an aerial ball with England's goalkeeper Peter Shilton. With the obvious height disadvantage, the Argentina No. 10 elects to cunningly stick out his hand and punch the ball into the unguarded net.

With England's players protesting furiously, convinced that the goal should and would be disallowed, Maradona runs off to celebrate giving Argentina a crucial lead. Many in England still fail to forgive the star for his actions.

Just four minutes later, the little magician receives the ball in his own half and after beating two England players with some typical quick-footed trickery hares toward goal. Displaying incredible close control, Maradona dances through the England defense before taking the ball around Shilton and slotting it into the net.

The effort was later voted the goal of the century by a vote on the FIFA website, something with which it is hard to argue.

Napoli Hero Banned then Arrested for Cocaine

Maradona moved to Italian side Napoli in 1984, after a difficult spell with Spanish giants Barcelona. And it was at the Southern Italian club that Maradona enjoyed the best years of his career. The man from Buenos Aires became a hero in Naples as he led the club to still their only league titles in 1987 and 1990.

But the love affair was to have an unsavory ending when Maradona was given a 15 month suspension by the Italian Federation and then FIFA after testing positive for cocaine following a match against Bari in March 1991.

Maradona fled to Argentina following the positive test, avoiding a court appearance on charges of possession and supply charges, according to the Independent.

But the authorities in Argentina soon caught up with Maradona too and arrested him for possession of cocaine.

Diego Goes El Loco With An Air-Rifle

In February 1994, just days after having his contract cancelled by Argentinian club Newell's Old Boys, Maradona fired his air rifle at a scrum of photographers and reporters converged outside his Buenos Aires Home, injuring four people, according to the BBC.

Maradona was later given a suspended jail sentence of two years and 10 months.

Maradona Makes His Mark at USA '94

After much speculation about his form and fitness coming into the World Cup, Maradona appeared to answer his critics in the most emphatic fashion. In Argentina's opening match of the tournament against Greece, following some glorious interplay involving Fernando Redondo, Maradona receives the ball on the edge of the box before slamming it into the top corner.

He then proceeds to release all the pent-up emotion, and perhaps something more, in dramatic fashion by running over to the sideline camera with his eyes ready to burst out of his skull.

As became a pattern with Maradona's career the high was soon followed by a dramtic low. The 33-year-old was ejected from the World Cup after being found to have the stimulant and appetite suppressant ephedrine in his system following a drug test after Argentina's next game against Nigeria.

After Leading Argentina to the World Cup, Launches Tirade on Journalists

It seems Diego does not have much affection for reporters. 15 years after the incident with the air rifle, Maradona celebrated guiding Argentina to the 2010 World Cup as coach by launching an explicit attack on the country's reporters.

Argentina qualified for the World Cup after a faltering campaign, with dramatic wins over Peru--which led to this Maradona celebration--and then Uruguay--which resulted in this one. But that was not enough for Maradona, who made sure he knew what he though of the Argentinian media.

To those who did not believe in us--and ladies forgive me--they can suck my ---- and keep on sucking it, he said, according to the Telegraph. I am black or white; I'll never be grey in my life.

You lot take it up the a---, if the ladies will pardon the expression. This is for all Argentinians except for the journalists. I would like to thank the team for giving me the privilege to lead Argentina to the World Cup. Thank you to the Argentinean people who had faith.