Argentina coach Diego Maradona has been warned to stay away from Friday's draw for the World Cup finals in South Africa. Fifa has contacted the Argentine Football Federation to ensure Maradona, who lifted the trophy in 1986, does not attend the ceremony in Cape Town.

The 'Hand of God' is currently serving a two-month ban from all football activities imposed by world football's governing body after an expletive-filled rant at a news conference following the decisive World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.

Maradona has already stated he would not be attending the event, but Fifa was responding to reports suggesting he may attempt to gain entry to the proceedings as a journalist.

Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke said: "Maradona has been officially banned from all football activities. It is not just a ban for friendly matches or official matches. It is for all football activities.

"If Maradona appears now as a journalist for a media company, again, his accreditation will not be delivered by Fifa.

"If he is asking for an accreditation, I can tell you - no way."