FIFA to ask Mexican coach Lavolpe not to smoke

BERLIN, June 12 (Reuters) FIFA will write to Mexico's colourful coach Ricardo Lavolpe asking him to stop smoking during Mexico's World Cup matches.

Although Lavolpe is not breaking any regulations, FIFA has already asked all coaches not to smoke during games. TV pictures showed the 54-year-old Argentinian-born coach puffing away at pitchside during his team's 3-1 win over Iran yesterday.

FIFA spokesman Markus Siegler said today FIFA would look at replays of the coverage and ask him to observe the guidelines.

Lavolpe, who has a keen dress sense and sports a goatee beard, has improved Mexico's soccer fortunes over the last three years and they could well make the later stages of the competition.

Many coaches have smoked in the past, most famously Cesar Luis Menotti who led Argentina to victory in the 1978 World Cup final in Buenos Aires.

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