MOSCOW – Diego Maradona has apologised to FIFA and its referees for sayingthat England’s last 16 win over Colombia in the World Cup was a robbery andthat referee Mark Geiger was not up to the task.

Maradona said sorry after being rebuked by soccer’s governing bodyfollowing comments he made after England’s hard-fought penalty shootout winin Tuesday’s game.

“Overcome by emotion in cheering for Colombia the other day I said a coupleof things and I admit, some of them were unacceptable,” Maradona wrote onhis Instagram account.

“My apologies to FIFA and its president (Gianni Infantino); although Isometimes disagree with some refereeing decisions I have the utmost respectfor the work – which isn’t easy – that the referees do.”