<p class="title">The Mexican Football Federation said Wednesday it has opened an investigation into whether Diego Maradona violated its ethics code when he praised Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after a recent match.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Maradona, the coach of Mexican second-division side Dorados, triggered the controversy -- the latest in a long line for the Argentine legend -- with his comments during a post-match press conference on Sunday, following his club's 3-2 win over Tampico Madero.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I want to dedicate this victory to Nicolas Maduro and all Venezuelans, who are suffering," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"These Yankees (the United States), the sheriffs of the world, think just because they have the world's biggest bomb they can push us around. But no, not us."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Maradona is close to Maduro, the embattled leftist leader who has presided over a spiralling political and economic crisis in Venezuela.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The United States has led more than 50 countries in recognising opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's acting president, calling Maduro's May re-election illegitimate.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Mexican Football Federation said in a statement its disciplinary committee had opened an investigation over the comments "for an alleged infraction of articles 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 of the FMF ethics code."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Article 7 of that code calls on those affiliated with the federation to "maintain a neutral stance on political and religious matters."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986, is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But he is also known for leading a life as colourful off the pitch as on it, publicly battling drug addiction, alcoholism, obesity and countless scandals.</p>
<p class="title">The Mexican Football Federation said Wednesday it has opened an investigation into whether Diego Maradona violated its ethics code when he praised Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after a recent match.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Maradona, the coach of Mexican second-division side Dorados, triggered the controversy -- the latest in a long line for the Argentine legend -- with his comments during a post-match press conference on Sunday, following his club's 3-2 win over Tampico Madero.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I want to dedicate this victory to Nicolas Maduro and all Venezuelans, who are suffering," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"These Yankees (the United States), the sheriffs of the world, think just because they have the world's biggest bomb they can push us around. But no, not us."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Maradona is close to Maduro, the embattled leftist leader who has presided over a spiralling political and economic crisis in Venezuela.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The United States has led more than 50 countries in recognising opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's acting president, calling Maduro's May re-election illegitimate.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Mexican Football Federation said in a statement its disciplinary committee had opened an investigation over the comments "for an alleged infraction of articles 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 of the FMF ethics code."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Article 7 of that code calls on those affiliated with the federation to "maintain a neutral stance on political and religious matters."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986, is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But he is also known for leading a life as colourful off the pitch as on it, publicly battling drug addiction, alcoholism, obesity and countless scandals.</p>