National mourning for Maradona
The farewell ceremony for Maradona started in the afternoon at the presidential palace "Casa Rosada" in Buenos Aires and will last for two days.
The coffin with the body of the world champion was placed right in the official residence of the head of state.
He was also covered with the Argentine flag and the shirt of the national team with the tenth number, under which the famous player played.
The funeral event from the first hours caused a real stir in the city.
According to the local press, up to a million people are planning to say goodbye to Maradona.
In this regard, the authorities are forced to think over how to organize the ceremony in such a way as to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Despite all the measures taken, on the way to the presidential palace, a huge queue immediately formed from those who wanted to see the athlete on their last journey.
The crowd of several thousand people stretched out over seven blocks.
At the same time, people were run to the coffin in a limited way.
Many of them were literally crying.
Empiezan los disturbios en la
despedida de Maradonađ„đ„.
Cargas policiales y vallas volando.
đ„ TodoNoticias Argentina pic.twitter.com/3AybKnZPvl
- El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) November 26, 2020
Not without clashes with the police.
It is reported that some of the fans tried to break through the fences in order to get to the presidential palace as quickly as possible.
In the course of clashes with law enforcement agencies, several people were injured.
Another unpleasant moment was the statement of Maradona's lawyer and friend Matias Morla, who said that the doctors did not provide the world champion with all the necessary assistance.
âThe fact that for 12 hours my friend did not receive any attention or control from the medical staff assigned for this purpose is unacceptable.
The ambulance drove to Diego for more than half an hour - this is criminal idiocy.
This fact should not be overlooked, I will demand that the investigation be carried out and brought to an end, âMorla wrote on Twitter.
According to Italian journalist Tanquerdi Palmeri, the son of the Argentinean, Diego Maradona Jr., who is in intensive care due to the coronavirus, learned of his father's death from a correspondent.
He called him to find out the man's reaction to what happened.
Meanwhile, Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero reacted to the death of his former father-in-law.
âWe will never forget you.
You will always be with us, "the footballer wrote on Twitter.
The Pope's Prayers and Shilton's Controversy
Other famous athletes also express their condolences to the family and friends of Maradona.
So, the famous boxer Mike Tyson remembered that in 1986 they both became world champions.
The Argentinean won the Planet Cup with his national team, and the American received the WBC title.
âMaradona,â the hand of God â, left us.
In 1986 we both won our championships.
We were even compared.
He was one of my heroes and my friend.
I respected him incredibly.
He will be sorely missed, "Tyson wrote on Twitter.
They mourn for Maradona and in Brazil.
For example, the former Barcelona midfielder Ronaldinho called the Argentinean his friend and idol.
âI sympathize with the family and everyone who loved this genius.
Thank you for every second you spent together, both at matches and just at dinner.
Our communication has always been special, and I will keep the memories of how I enjoyed playing with you.
I admired you and your greatness.
Rest in peace, my idol, I love you ... Wizard of wizards!
Eternal, âwrote Ronaldinho.
Meus sentimentos a familia ea todos que amam este gĂȘnio.
Meu amigo, meu Ădolo, meu nĂșmero 10, obrigado por cada instante em sua cia, seja em jogos ou num simples jantar.
pic.twitter.com/qOISSEtLmn
- Ronaldinho GaĂșcho (@ 10Ronaldinho) November 25, 2020
In turn, the world and European champion in the French national team, and now the head coach of Real Madrid Zinedine Zidane remembered how he enjoyed playing Maradona at the 1986 World Cup, as a child.
âThis is an incredible loss for world football.
Maradona is forever in my memory thanks to what he did at the 1986 World Cup.
I was 14 then.
At least I got a lucky chance to personally talk to him about that championship.
Every child dreams of this, and I had the opportunity to tell him that he was just an incredible footballer, âquotes the Goal.com specialist.
Conor McGregor, former UFC champion in two weight classes, also paid tribute to Maradona.
In turn, the President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Jean Todt posted on Twitter a joint photo with Maradona, as well as the seven-time world champion in the Formula 1 class Michael Schumacher.
Monaco 2005, a memorable moment with two legends pic.twitter.com/5dIhYOxdOm
- Jean Todt (@JeanTodt) November 26, 2020
But ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, against whom Maradona scored two famous goals in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals (âgoal of the centuryâ and âGod's handâ), made quite ambiguous statements about the Argentine.
âOur lives with Maradona have long been connected, and not in the way I would like.
But I am saddened by the news that he passed away at such a young age.
He was without a doubt the greatest footballer I have ever played against, and my thoughts are now on his family.
If you remember Maradona's goal with your hand, I don't like that he never apologized.
There was no moment when he would admit that he played dishonestly, and would say that he wants to apologize.
Instead, Diego used the phrase "the hand of God."
There was greatness in him, but unfortunately there was no sporting spirit, âShilton wrote in a column for the Daily Mail.
Finally, even Pope Francis, who, as you know, not only hails from Argentina, but also loves football, reacted to the death of the legendary athlete.
A Vatican spokesman said that the pontiff commemorates Maradona in his prayers.
âPope Francis has been informed of the death of Maradona.
He warmly recalls the meetings that they had in recent years, and prays for him, as he did in recent days, when he was informed about the health of the football player, âESPN quotes the representative of the Vatican Matteo Bruni.