ST PETERSBURG, June 27 (Reuters): Argentina great Diego Maradona said on Wednesday he was fine after appearing to take ill during the South Americans' roller-coaster World Cup win over Nigeria on Tuesday, but found himself in hot water again after making an obscene gesture at the game.
"I want to let you know I'm fine, I'm not nor was I hospitalised," the 57-year-old said via Instagram.
Maradona, who was seen being helped to walk from his seat amid the excitement of Tuesday's game in St. Petersburg, said a doctor had suggested he left at halftime after his neck hurt and he felt he might faint.
"But I wanted to stay, because it was all or nothing. How could I leave?" he said.
"A kiss for you all, sorry for the fright, thanks for putting up with me, Diego is around for a bit longer!"
During the game, Maradona drew attention with his antics in the stands - lapping up the adulation from fans, unveiling a poster of himself and seemingly falling asleep at one point.
Then, after Marcos Rojo's 86th minute winner secured Argentina's place in the last 16, he made a middle-finger gesture with both hands.
"From the hands of God, to the fingers of shame", read one headline in Latin America, referring to Maradona's "Hand of God" goal against England at the 1986 World Cup.
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