Reporters Accuse Maradona of Firing an Air Gun at Them

Argentine police searched Diego Maradona’s home and fingerprinted him Wednesday but did not find an air gun that journalists said the soccer star had fired at them, according to his attorney, Hugo Jofre.

Despite being seen on television crouched behind an automobile aiming a rifle at the camera, Maradona was only fingerprinted after the police raid failed to discover a rifle.

Maradona, fed up with journalists surrounding his home near Buenos Aires estate, lost his temper a day after his club, Newell’s Old Boys, fired him after four months for repeatedly missing practice.

At least five reporters were injured when they were hit by pellets from an air rifle. It was not clear whether Maradona himself was the shooter, but reporters on the scene said they saw him carrying a gun. One photographer said he took a photo of Maradona firing.

Jurisprudence

Forward Jayson Williams of the New Jersey Nets pleaded not guilty to charges he fired a handgun in the parking lot of the Meadowlands Arena after a Jan. 15 game.

Miscellany

Unwilling to take risks after the fatal crash of Ulrike Maier, World Cup officials canceled a men’s downhill ski race on the same course at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, where the Austrian star broke her neck.

Walt Disney Co. withdrew as producer of this summer’s World Cup opening ceremony in Chicago over what organizers describe as “artistic differences.” The ceremony is scheduled for Soldier Field on June 17, just before the first game in the 52-game, 24-nation tournament. Jam Productions of Chicago and MCA-Universal Studios, who made a joint proposal in the original bidding, plan to decide within a week whether they can take over.

Names in the News

Frank Falks, former USC and Ohio State assistant, was named tight ends coach by the San Diego Chargers.