Football: Maradona's shooting still dangerous: Sacked Argentinian genius fires air-rifle at band of inquisitors

DIEGO MARADONA, whose Newell's Old Boys contract was terminated by the Argentine club on Tuesday, yesterday peppered the media posse outside his house with air-rifle pellets.

Maradona barricaded himself in his villa outside Buenos Aires to escape the inquisitors but eventually emerged brandishing a gun. 'If you don't get out of here, we're going to start shooting real bullets,' the 33-year-old Hand of God declared. 'You're all a bunch of ***heads. Next time you shout I'm really going to lose it.'

Buenos Aires police later revealed that four reporters and photographers hit by pellets had lodged charges against the former Argentina captain.

Maradona's contract was ended after he continued to miss training. Walter Cattaneo, Newell's president, said that the club could cope when Maradona was absent through injury but 'when there are problems of psychological, emotional depression, that's where the serious trouble starts'.

In a neat synopsis of the relative ambitions of two Premiership clubs, Ruel Fox moved from Norwich City to Newcastle United yesterday for pounds 2.25m - a record for both teams. The Ipswich-born Fox, who has been at Carrow Road since signing associated schoolboy froms in October 1983, stated yesterday that moving to a revitalised St James' Park would assist his England aspirations.

Norwich fans, who shared Fox's anger at Mike Walker's recent departure to Everton, are planning to voice their disapproval of the latest exit during Saturday's visit by Liverpool - amid fears that Chris Sutton may be the next to leave.

Robert Chase, the Norwich chairman who failed in his offer to make Fox the club's highest paid player, argued that the 26-year-old winger was wrong to accuse the Carrow Road of lacking ambition. 'We certainly have a serious interest in bringing in two players,' Chase said.

Last night's football, page 43