Diego Maradona: Footballer laid to rest as Argentina grieves

Football legend Diego Maradona has been buried in a private ceremony after a day of emotional scenes in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

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 aged 60.

His death triggered mourning around the world but nowhere was it felt more fiercely than in a country that saw him as a national hero.

Maradona's 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.

"We were calm lining up and suddenly, the police started to fire rubber bullets," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency. "Crazy, I just want to say goodbye to Diego."

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 that many saw as a national icon, a star who made Argentina famous - and most of all, a very human role-model who Argentinians loved his flaws and all.

A man who was respected for achieving so much, yet never forgetting his roots.

'He was everything for us'
At the Italian club Napoli, where Maradona played for seven years and transformed their fortunes, fans flocked to the stadium to pay their respects chanting "Diego, Diego!".

It is the second day people have defied a coronavirus lockdown to pay tribute, ahead of Napoli's closed-door Europa League fixture against the Croatian team Rijeka.



The Napoli team, who all stepped onto the pitch wearing black armbands and Maradona's No. 10 jersey, won the match 2-0.

"He was unique, he represented everything, everything for us Neapolitans," fan Gianni Autiero told Reuters. "I have cried for only a few people in my life, and Diego is one of them."

World mourns Argentine football legend Maradona
One of the greatest football players of all time, Maradona had a troubled personal life marked by cocaine and alcohol addiction. He had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency.

Local media said the preliminary results of an autopsy showed he had suffered "acute heart failure".

The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager died at his home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires. The last person to see Maradona alive was his nephew Johnny Esposito, according to statements gathered by officials.

Maradona is survived by five children and his former wife, 58-year-old Claudia Villafane, whom he split with in 2004 after 20 years of marriage.

After news of his death emerged, at 22:00 on Wednesday (01:00 GMT) - an hour chosen to match the number on his shirt - stadiums across Argentina switched on their floodlights to honour his memory.

Fans flocked to La Bombonera, Boca Juniors' stadium in Buenos Aires, where many were in tears.

Maradona, who also played for Barcelona, was captain of the national team when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous "Hand of God" goal against England in the quarter-finals.

To score the goal, Maradona used his hand to deflect the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, but the referee did not see it. It remains one of the most controversial World Cup moments.

Former Tottenham midfielder Ossie Ardiles, who played alongside Maradona at the 1982 World Cup, told the BBC "he will be remembered as a genius in football".

Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi also paid tribute, writing on social media : "He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal."

Former England striker and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, who was part of the England team beaten by Argentina at the 1986 World Cup, said Maradona was "by some distance, the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time".

In a statement on social media, the Argentine Football Association expressed "its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend", adding: "You will always be in our hearts."

BBC




Fans pay last respect outside the Jardin de Bellavista Cemetery


Argentine football players pay last respect

*Additional Pictures from DailyMail

The display of love for this man is truly amazing! May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Join DogmartTV today and enjoy lots of interesting pet informations and entertainment.

If you are a pet lover, this is one place you ought to be

Simply click:

https:///23408068738381?text=Hello%2CI%20Want%20To%20Join%20DogmartTV%20My%20Name%20Is%20

Or send "Hi" to 080 6873 8381 on WhatsApp.

Diego the great. May your soul rest in perfect peace.

This was not just the death of a man. it was the passing on of a legend, arguably the GOAT and one of the most respected and controversial figure in football history. he was the real magic before messi. You can see the genuine love people had for him. I can still remember when he flipped us the middle finger at the world cup, i vex that day.

Go easy Champ!!!
I’ll pay my respect to him by marrying one of his daughters

Legends Never dies, rest in power Diego Maradona

RIP Diego...Death could have taken Lai Mohammed, Fashola, Tinubu, Oshomole, Wike, Amaechi, Nnamdi Kanu, and las las BuBu...coz Nigeria would be better without these people...No one would even bother to clash with the police during their funeral...

I can only wonder which Nigerian when God calls them home will have the nation weep for them in this fashion.

Wow.

Football is REALLY influential. The WORLD is literally mourning the death of one man.

REST ON DIEGO, U WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED.

RIP legend Maradona, A little of Maradona and a little of hand of God

RIP Champ!

...
I join millions across the world to mourn the passing away of diego Armando Maradona...

Upon how people full Aso rock reach, na armondo death go see...

RIP true Legend.

You brought so much joy with the ball on your feet







For your car tracking services and installation, check my signature

Rip

Chai, that was quite fast. Rest on legend!

You could have done more for football (advisory or coaching), but death came earlier.

okay

DIEGO LIVES ON

I remember when abacha died
People celebrated his death...
There is another person people are waiting to celebrate his death...
Rip Diego
Don't worry I won't bench you again on pes2021

My condolences to the family

will Nigeria mourn for Buhari death like this man?

Rip legend

nolywe:
RIP Diego...Death could have taken Lai Mohammed, Fashola, Tinubu, Oshomole, Wike, Amaechi, Nnamdi Kanu, and las las BuBu...coz Nigeria would be better without these people...No one would even bother to clash with the police during their funeral...

Hahahaha hahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahah lmao werey o

Ayiinlla1:
I think he's more loved than messi

Even a kid knows this.

Messi is more loved than every other footballer in Argentina.

RIP to a legend.
RIP to one of the greatest of all times.

Trump my man

RIP Legend

Rest on legend.

Helpfromabove1:
Trump my man

Lmao photoshop

why everybody acting like they didnt know this guy was gonna die ? he has been living on borrowed time for many years now. i am surprised he lasted this long. coccaina destroyed his heart long time ago