Diego Maradona laid to rest amidst protest, riots and police clash
Diego Maradona laid to rest amidst protest, riots and police clash
Legendary Footballer, Diego Maradona has been buried in a private ceremony after a day of emotional scenes in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
His coffin draped in Argentina’s national flag and football shirt, bearing his trademark number 10 on the back was on public display at the presidential palace on Thursday.
By mid-afternoon queues stretched back for more than a kilometre, and police clashed with mourners as they tried to close off the palace in anticipation of the wake scheduled for 16:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
There were reports of tear gas and rubber bullets being used as officers in riot gear struggled to hold back the crowd.
One well-wisher, Rubén Hernández, thought the police had overreacted and was not allowing them to properly show their last respect.
“We were calm lining up and suddenly, the police started to fire rubber bullets, crazy, I just want to say goodbye to Diego,” he said.
Authorities were eventually forced to stop public viewing of the coffin to keep the peace.
The motorised funeral cortege drove his body to the Bella Vista cemetery on the outskirts of the city, where he was buried next to the graves of his parents.
The atmosphere varied greatly outside the presidential palace, those waiting to go in were singing and chanting.
“If you don’t jump, you’re English,” is one of the favourite chants of Argentinians about the 1986 match with England and THAT goal – the Hand of God – something many here saw as a sort of payback after the Falklands War, known here as the Malvinas.
But on the other side of the square, there was another line with those coming out, many wiping away tears or hugging each other after processing what had happened.
This wasn’t just the death of Argentina’s superstar footballer, but the passing of a man who many saw as a national icon, a star who made Argentina famous and most of all, a very human role-model who Argentinians loved, flaws and all.
A man who was respected for achieving so much, yet never forgetting his roots.
Only around two dozen relatives and close friends attended the final ceremony on Thursday.
But earlier huge crowds turned out to pay their respects, with many weeping, blowing kisses and praying as they filed past his coffin.
Maradona died of a heart attack on Wednesday after a shock from football score sparked an ailment in him.
The Argentine underwent surgery and was showing signs of recovery, but suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away.
Diego Maradona died at the age of 60, according to multiple reports from Argentina.
The Argentine football legend suffered a cardiac arrest at home in Tigre.
Maradona underwent an operation to remove a blood clot on his brain on October 30.
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The Gimnasia boss fell unwell after his side beat Patronato 3-0 and was taken to hospital in La Plata, near the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires.
Scans discovered a subdural hemetoma, requiring Maradona to undergo immediate surgery to remove the problem before being sent home to continue his recovery.
Reports in Argentina say Maradona was showing signs of recovery, but the 60-year-old then suffered a cardiac arrest and has passed away.
Tribute from footballers
Tottenham manager, Jose Mourinho has become the latest to pay tribute to Argentine legend Diego Maradona following his death on Wednesday after heart failure.
The world of football is in mourning as arguably its greatest ever player was laid to rest on Thursday, following Spurs’ 4-0 win over Ludogorets in the Europa League Mourinho shared his memories of Maradona.
He said Maradona was always there for him during difficult moments and misses him.
“In difficult moments he was always there. He would always say after defeats, ‘Mou, don’t forget, you are the best!’
“I miss Diego.”
José Mourinho pays tribute to the legend, Diego Maradona.
“There is Maradona and there is Diego. Maradona I don’t need to speak about because the world knows and nobody will forget,” Mourinho told BT Sport.
“Diego is different, the people that are the big friends of him, the people that share dressing rooms with him, colleagues, these guys are privileged.
“I can say he was a good friend of mine, but my contacts with him were by telephone and we met of course a few times.” he stressed.
Mourinho noted that there would be one thing he would miss and would never get that is his affable heart.
“He had a big, big, big, big heart. That’s the guy I miss, because his football we can find every time we miss him, if we Google we will find it. But Diego, no,’ he cried.
"In difficult moments he was always there. He would always say after defeats, 'Mou, don't forget, you are the best!'
"I miss Diego."
José Mourinho pays tribute to the legend, Diego Maradona 💙 pic.twitter.com/hz69IabWMi
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 26, 2020
Maradona played for Tottenham in Ossie Ardiles’s testimonial in the same year he helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup and was also a good friend of Mourinho.
Earlier, Soccer icon Pele in his tribute was optimistic that he would play football with Maradona in heaven.
“I have lost a great friend and the world lost a legend.”
“There is still much to be said, but for now, may God give strength to his family members. One day, I hope, we will play football together in heaven,” Pele, who turned 80 last month wrote on Twitter.
Source: www.spotonnews.net
