Diego Maradona was restrained by security staff as he confronted opposition fans in the stands yesterday, angry at threats and abuse directed toward wives and girlfriends of his Al Wasl players.

Maradona called the Al Shabab fans "cowards" after they heckled the women during his team's 0-2 loss. The women were eventually escorted from the stadium by police. No one was hurt.

Some people are cowards. They only attack women and have no courage to confront men," Maradona said according to The Gulf News. "This is the first time I am upset with the fans. If they are angry with me they should know that I did it (climbed the stands) for my (girlfriend) 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."