Argentina coach Diego Maradona underwent minor facial surgery on
Tuesday after he was bitten by one of his pet dogs.
The Argentine television station TN said Maradona had
reconstructive surgery to repair an injury to his upper lip after
he was bitten. He was expected to be discharged later Tuesday.
An official at Los Arcos clinic, who declined to be
identified, said Maradona was out of danger and in good condition.
Clinic officials said a news conference would be held later in the
day.
Argentine news reports said Maradona was playing with his
Shar Pei when it bit him at his home in the Buenos Aries suburb of
Ezeiza.
Shar Pei are often used as a guard dog, though they are known
to adjust well to family situations.
Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup, will coach
the Gauchos in the World Cup in South Africa. The team plays Canada
on May 24 in Buenos Aries before leaving for its training
headquarters in South Africa.
Regarded as one of the world's greatest players, Maradona is
revered in Argentina despite problems with drug addiction, scandals
and lately the poor play of the team, which struggled to qualify
for the World Cup despite some of the world's top players including
Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
Argentina plays in Group B in South Africa with Nigeria,
Greece and South Korea.
