Maradona in Zurich for FIFA hearing

Maradona later sought to make amends and admitted that if Argentina had failed to qualify he - would have taken myself off to Haiti.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona appeared Sunday before a disciplinary hearing at world football's governing body FIFA over his sexually-explicit rant after his team's World Cup qualification.

The sporting icon was facing a possible fine and suspension from international matches after he rounded on critics during a press conference after Argentina qualified for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

Maradona left in a convoy at 5.25 pm local time (1625 GMT), more than two and a half hours after he arrived at FIFA's headquarters, without speaking to reporters.

He had earlier flown into the Swiss city from Madrid where Argentina lost 2-1 against Spain in a friendly late Saturday.

Wearing sunglasses and tracksuit, Maradona kept silent as he was escorted through Zurich airport into a nearby hotel complex by an Argentine football official and bodyguards.

He later entered FIFA headquarters at about 2.50 pm, 50 minutes after the originally scheduled time for the hearing behind closed doors.

FIFA have declined to give details although they said they would release a statement afterwards.

Maradona's public outburst came after Argentina's 1-0 win over Uruguay in October, which allowed the two-time world champions to squeeze narrowly into next year's finals in South Africa after a lowly and tense qualifying round.

At the time, the 48-year-old, a hero in Argentina after skippering the 1986 World Cup winning team, told journalists to "suck it and keep sucking it".

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has said Maradona may have flouted regulations which could result in a fine of up to 29,400 dollars and/or suspension.

Maradona later sought to make amends and admitted that if Argentina had failed to qualify he would have taken himself "off to Haiti".