Maradona Denied Japanese Visa
By Associated Press

May 25, 2002, 1:05 AM EDT

SANTIAGO, Chile -- Former Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona confirmed
Friday that he will not attend the World Cup after failing to obtain a
Japanese visa because of a drug offense.

"It was useless. We submitted all kind of papers, but to no avail," he said
in an interview on Chilean television. "They didn't pay any attention to
me."

Japanese law forbids entry into the country by any foreigner with a history
of drug-related offenses.

After he tested positive for cocaine in 1991 while playing for Napoli in
Italy, Maradona was arrested in Buenos Aires and charged with cocaine
possession and distribution.
Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press

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