Liverpool's ever expanding injury list has prompted Jurgen Klopp to take on the football authorities and broadcasters over a gruelling schedule that he feels is doing little to protect the players.

The English champions head into Tuesday's Champions League clash with Ajax without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri, Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Milner.

Klopp was infuriated that Liverpool were chosen for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off in a 1-1 draw at Brighton just over 60 hours after they faced Atalanta in Europe on Wednesday night.

"After Wednesday, Saturday at 12:30 is really dangerous for the players," said Klopp, who also sarcastically congratulated a BT Sport interviewer for Milner's hamstring injury in the second half.

However, he is not alone and has formed an unlikely alliance with Manchester United and Manchester City, who have also faced early Saturday kick-offs after Wednesday night games in the Champions League this season.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his side had been "set up to fail" when they won at Everton after returning from a trip to Turkey barely 48 hours before they travelled to Goodison Park.

City boss Pep Guardiola has also been a strong advocate of allowing managers the chance to make five substitutions.

"All around the world there is five substitutions. Here we believe we are a special league with just three players, we don't protect the players," said Guardiola after his side's 1-1 draw with Liverpool earlier this month that characterised the problems of a condensed calendar.

Both sides chased the game in an enthralling first 45 minutes before settling for a point as fatigue set in after the break.

"We've reached a point where you start to think that with so many matches and so many injuries, the spectacle is not the same," said Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane last week.

<h2>- Joyless football -</h2>

Despite losing a month of the season due to a late start to the campaign caused by the three-month coronavirus shutdown last season, barely any sacrifices have been made in English football to ease the strain on players.

Both domestic cup competitions have been retained alongside a full 38-game Premier League season, European football commitments and two international breaks with an extra game for European nations.

Guardiola has repeatedly argued that the gruelling winter schedule in England when other major leagues take a mid-season break comes at the expense of better quality matches for fans to enjoy.

And he believes that is only exacerbated in a season so far without fans inside the ground.

"The problem is today the players lose the joy of playing football. Before it was nice playing football once or twice a week with spectators, now it is in three days another one."

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder drew Klopp's ire after standing his ground in a manager's meeting last week over the issue of five substitutes.

Two previous votes have failed to garner the 14 votes needed from the 20 Premier League clubs to change the rules over fears from those with less resources that such a change only benefits the bigger clubs with deeper squads.

"I've got incredible respect for these top managers because they produce top results and win things," said Wilder, whose side sit bottom of the table with just one point from 10 games.

"But they're selfish, they look after their own clubs. They're going to be bothered about Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea, which I understand and respect. I would be the same, but I'm bothered about Sheffield United and it doesn't help us to have five subs."

Yet, the evidence across Europe shows the continent's biggest clubs are struggling to match their usual levels of dominance even with five subs.

Real Madrid and Barcelona find themselves well off the pace in La Liga having already lost three times each. Paris Saint-Germain have also lost three of their opening 12 matches in Ligue 1, while Juventus sit fourth in Serie A, behind Sassuolo, as they go for a 10th consecutive title.

Klopp may not be getting much sympathy from those fighting just to remain in the Premier League.

But the cost of cramming so much football into a shortened calendar threatens not only player welfare, but the enjoyment for fans watching a watered down product.

Liverpool's ever expanding injury list has prompted Jurgen Klopp to take on the football authorities and broadcasters over a gruelling schedule that he feels is doing little to protect the players.

Liverpool's ever expanding injury list has prompted Jurgen Klopp to take on the football authorities and broadcasters over a gruelling schedule that he feels is doing little to protect the players. The English champions head into Tuesday's Champions League clash with Ajax without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri, Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Milner. Klopp was infuriated that Liverpool were chosen for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off in a 1-1 draw at Brighton just over 60 hours after they faced Atalanta in Europe on Wednesday night. "After Wednesday, Saturday at 12:30 is really dangerous for the players," said Klopp, who also sarcastically congratulated a BT Sport interviewer for Milner's hamstring injury in the second half. However, he is not alone and has formed an unlikely alliance with Manchester United and Manchester City, who have also faced early Saturday kick-offs after Wednesday night games in the Champions League this season. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his side had been "set up to fail" when they won at Everton after returning from a trip to Turkey barely 48 hours before they travelled to Goodison Park. City boss Pep Guardiola has also been a strong advocate of allowing managers the chance to make five substitutions. "All around the world there is five substitutions. Here we believe we are a special league with just three players, we don't protect the players," said Guardiola after his side's 1-1 draw with Liverpool earlier this month that characterised the problems of a condensed calendar. Both sides chased the game in an enthralling first 45 minutes before settling for a point as fatigue set in after the break. "We've reached a point where you start to think that with so many matches and so many injuries, the spectacle is not the same," said Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane last week. - Joyless football - Despite losing a month of the season due to a late start to the campaign caused by the three-month coronavirus shutdown last season, barely any sacrifices have been made in English football to ease the strain on players. Both domestic cup competitions have been retained alongside a full 38-game Premier League season, European football commitments and two international breaks with an extra game for European nations. Guardiola has repeatedly argued that the gruelling winter schedule in England when other major leagues take a mid-season break comes at the expense of better quality matches for fans to enjoy. And he believes that is only exacerbated in a season so far without fans inside the ground. "The problem is today the players lose the joy of playing football. Before it was nice playing football once or twice a week with spectators, now it is in three days another one." Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder drew Klopp's ire after standing his ground in a manager's meeting last week over the issue of five substitutes. Two previous votes have failed to garner the 14 votes needed from the 20 Premier League clubs to change the rules over fears from those with less resources that such a change only benefits the bigger clubs with deeper squads. "I've got incredible respect for these top managers because they produce top results and win things," said Wilder, whose side sit bottom of the table with just one point from 10 games. "But they're selfish, they look after their own clubs. They're going to be bothered about Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea, which I understand and respect. I would be the same, but I'm bothered about Sheffield United and it doesn't help us to have five subs." Yet, the evidence across Europe shows the continent's biggest clubs are struggling to match their usual levels of dominance even with five subs. Real Madrid and Barcelona find themselves well off the pace in La Liga having already lost three times each. Paris Saint-Germain have also lost three of their opening 12 matches in Ligue 1, while Juventus sit fourth in Serie A, behind Sassuolo, as they go for a 10th consecutive title. Klopp may not be getting much sympathy from those fighting just to remain in the Premier League. But the cost of cramming so much football into a shortened calendar threatens not only player welfare, but the enjoyment for fans watching a watered down product.

'Selfish' or 'protecting the players'? Klopp's complaints divide managers

Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani is set to be investigated by the Football Association over a social media posts which he subsequently deleted. The Uruguayan striker, in a reply to a message of congratulations after his brace against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/premier-league">Premier League</a> club Southampton, used the Spanish word ‘negrito’ (‘black’).

Manchester United said the term was used in an affectionate manner and has a different context in South America. The case is similar to what happened on social media between Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy after the former used a ‘black’ cartoon to tease Mendy. The two are best of buddies.

Manchester United said the veteran forward had been informed that such terms are taken as derogatory in Britain and he deleted the post.

The FA issues guidelines pre-season outlining racist and discriminatory language and behavior with offences on social media having a minimum three-match ban. This comes as FA’s strict measures to tackle racism and promote equality in the world of football.

Edinson Cavani statement: "The message I posted after the game on Sunday was intended as an affectionate greeting to a friend, thanking him for his congratulations after the game."

Edinson Cavani statement: "The last thing I wanted to do was cause offence to anyone. I am completely opposed to racism and deleted the message as soon as it was explained that it can be interpreted differently. I would like to sincerely apologise for this."

<img alt="Cavani post" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6f670405-d23d-40b6-9787-a3abf097de14" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Screen-Shot-2020-11-30-at-07.18.48-e1606721528839.png" />

Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli, both were suspended for one match each after social media posts that breached the guidelines.&nbsp;

Manchester United statement: "It is clear to us that there was absolutely no malicious intent behind Edinson’s [Cavani] message and he deleted it as soon as he was informed that it could be misconstrued."

Manchester United statement: "Edinson has issued an apology for any unintentional offence caused. Manchester United and all of our players are fully committed to the fight against racism."

Meanwhile, Manchester United completed a dream comeback against Southampton after going 2-0 down. Cavani, who ended up in the controversy, was key to the comeback as he netted a brace. Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandez was the other scorer for the Red Devils as they defeated Southampton 2-3 following an inspired comeback.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani is set to be investigated by the Football Association over a social media posts which he subsequently deleted. The Uruguayan striker, in a reply to a message of congratulations after his brace against Premier League club Southampton, used the Spanish word ‘negrito’ (‘black’).

Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani is set to be investigated by the Football Association over a social media posts which he subsequently deleted. The Uruguayan striker, in a reply to a message of congratulations after his brace against Premier League club Southampton, used the Spanish word ‘negrito’ (‘black’). Manchester United said the term was used in an affectionate manner and has a different context in South America. The case is similar to what happened on social media between Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy after the former used a ‘black’ cartoon to tease Mendy. The two are best of buddies. Manchester United said the veteran forward had been informed that such terms are taken as derogatory in Britain and he deleted the post. The FA issues guidelines pre-season outlining racist and discriminatory language and behavior with offences on social media having a minimum three-match ban. This comes as FA’s strict measures to tackle racism and promote equality in the world of football. Edinson Cavani statement: "The message I posted after the game on Sunday was intended as an affectionate greeting to a friend, thanking him for his congratulations after the game." Edinson Cavani statement: "The last thing I wanted to do was cause offence to anyone. I am completely opposed to racism and deleted the message as soon as it was explained that it can be interpreted differently. I would like to sincerely apologise for this." Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli, both were suspended for one match each after social media posts that breached the guidelines. Manchester United statement: "It is clear to us that there was absolutely no malicious intent behind Edinson’s [Cavani] message and he deleted it as soon as he was informed that it could be misconstrued." Manchester United statement: "Edinson has issued an apology for any unintentional offence caused. Manchester United and all of our players are fully committed to the fight against racism." Meanwhile, Manchester United completed a dream comeback against Southampton after going 2-0 down. Cavani, who ended up in the controversy, was key to the comeback as he netted a brace. Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandez was the other scorer for the Red Devils as they defeated Southampton 2-3 following an inspired comeback.

Edinson Cavani investigated by English FA over 'racist' social media post, Uruguayan reacts

Lionel Messi on Sunday paid an emotional tribute to Diego Maradona by revealing a Newell’s Old Boys jersey after scoring a mirror-image goal from Maradona’s days at the Argentine club. Messi spent his formative years at Newell’s Old Boys, a team Maradona represented towards the end of his career.

Messi looked emotional during the minute’s applause for Maradona, who passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday.

Barcelona looked inspired in their 4-0 win over Osasuna with Messi finding his name in the scoresheet after 73 minutes. After being found on the edge of the box by Francisco Trincao, Messi made himself space before unleashing a top-corner rocket.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/diego-maradona-unabashed-and-outspoken-most-famous-quotes-by-argentine-legend-345634" hreflang="en">Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend</a>

Interestingly, this was his first open play goal this season as Messi took off his Barcelona jersey to reveal the same of Newell’s Old Boys with No. 10 on the back in tribute to Maradona. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner pointed to the sky while displaying the Newell’s kit as a show of emotion for Maradona. As per the rules, Messi was shown yellow card for taking off his Barcelona jersey.

Both Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann said they were not aware of Messi’s plans of a tribute on a moving day at Camp Nou, where Maradona played from 1982 to 1984.&nbsp;

"We lost Maradona, a global idol, we all miss him," Coutinho said. "We didn't know what Messi had prepared to honour Maradona," added Griezmann. "It was a beautiful surprise."

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Lionel Messi with an awesome Maradona tribute after scoring an incredible goal...<a href="https://t.co/mTo7b9u1KY">pic.twitter.com/mTo7b9u1KY</a>
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) <a href="https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1333071255705161729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Newell's responded through their English Twitter account, saying: "It's all about number 10. The best player in the world and his tribute to #D10S."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ciao-diego-argentina-and-napoli-fans-mourn-maradonas-death-345538" hreflang="en">'Ciao Diego': Argentina and Napoli fans mourn Maradona's death</a>

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It's all about number 🔟. 
 
The best player in the world and his tribute to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/D10S?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#D10S</a> ❤️🖤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DiegoEterno?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DiegoEterno</a> ♾ <a href="https://t.co/JZhkZgX9jx">pic.twitter.com/JZhkZgX9jx</a>
— Newell's Old Boys (@CANOBoficial_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/CANOBoficial_en/status/1333062242535960579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Messi's tribute to Maradona wins hearts:</h2>

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Messi with an awesome Maradona tribute after scoring an incredible goal <a href="https://t.co/AEvYfHzKqx">pic.twitter.com/AEvYfHzKqx</a>
— Icculus The Brave (@FirenzeMike) <a href="https://twitter.com/FirenzeMike/status/1333061158610284545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Messi’s goal today where he reveals Maradona’s newell’s shirt vs Maradona’s debut goal for Newell’s, I’m absolutely speechless....<a href="https://t.co/esRdjxKn1C">pic.twitter.com/esRdjxKn1C</a>
— Haz (@pubIad) <a href="https://twitter.com/pubIad/status/1333106600324853760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Are you telling me that Messi scored the same goal and with the same shirt as Maradona? Insane 🤯🇦🇷 <a href="https://t.co/v33DR6NUuP">pic.twitter.com/v33DR6NUuP</a>
— River Plate News (@lnfoCARP) <a href="https://twitter.com/lnfoCARP/status/1333125233532952577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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One legend pays tribute to another legend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maradona?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maradona</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> ❤ <a href="https://t.co/4twx7HDQGK">pic.twitter.com/4twx7HDQGK</a>
— wazeermurtaza399 (@balti_northboy) <a href="https://twitter.com/balti_northboy/status/1333426876463902722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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1993 ⏩ 2020 
 
27 years later, Lionel Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona in the only way he knew how 🖤❤️ <a href="https://t.co/1lXqDfn35T">pic.twitter.com/1lXqDfn35T</a>
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1333425804840144898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Lahoz gave only one card in the Barça vs Osasuna game (to Messi for his Maradona tribute). That's the fewest number of cards Lahoz gave in a Liga game since 2018! <a href="https://t.co/bozlReaYVF">pic.twitter.com/bozlReaYVF</a>
— adil (@Barca19stats) <a href="https://twitter.com/Barca19stats/status/1333419670385340416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Messi and Maradona shared the pitch together in 2005 – in an exhibition match featuring the greats of Argentine football. Messi was 18 and Maradona was 45.

Maradona briefly coached Messi at international level when he was in charge of the Argentine team from 2008 to 2010.&nbsp;

“Even if I played for a million years, I’d never come close to Maradona,” Messi said. "Not that I’d want to anyway. He’s the greatest there’s ever been.”

Lionel Messi on Sunday paid an emotional tribute to Diego Maradona by revealing a Newell’s Old Boys jersey after scoring a mirror-image goal from Maradona’s days at the Argentine club.

Lionel Messi on Sunday paid an emotional tribute to Diego Maradona by revealing a Newell’s Old Boys jersey after scoring a mirror-image goal from Maradona’s days at the Argentine club. Messi spent his formative years at Newell’s Old Boys, a team Maradona represented towards the end of his career. Messi looked emotional during the minute’s applause for Maradona, who passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday. Barcelona looked inspired in their 4-0 win over Osasuna with Messi finding his name in the scoresheet after 73 minutes. After being found on the edge of the box by Francisco Trincao, Messi made himself space before unleashing a top-corner rocket. IN PICS | Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend Interestingly, this was his first open play goal this season as Messi took off his Barcelona jersey to reveal the same of Newell’s Old Boys with No. 10 on the back in tribute to Maradona. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner pointed to the sky while displaying the Newell’s kit as a show of emotion for Maradona. As per the rules, Messi was shown yellow card for taking off his Barcelona jersey. Both Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann said they were not aware of Messi’s plans of a tribute on a moving day at Camp Nou, where Maradona played from 1982 to 1984. "We lost Maradona, a global idol, we all miss him," Coutinho said. "We didn't know what Messi had prepared to honour Maradona," added Griezmann. "It was a beautiful surprise." Lionel Messi with an awesome Maradona tribute after scoring an incredible goal...pic.twitter.com/mTo7b9u1KY — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) November 29, 2020 × Newell's responded through their English Twitter account, saying: "It's all about number 10. The best player in the world and his tribute to #D10S." ALSO READ: 'Ciao Diego': Argentina and Napoli fans mourn Maradona's death It's all about number 🔟. The best player in the world and his tribute to #D10S ❤️🖤#DiegoEterno ♾ pic.twitter.com/JZhkZgX9jx — Newell's Old Boys (@CANOBoficial_en) November 29, 2020 × Messi's tribute to Maradona wins hearts: Messi with an awesome Maradona tribute after scoring an incredible goal pic.twitter.com/AEvYfHzKqx — Icculus The Brave (@FirenzeMike) November 29, 2020 × Messi’s goal today where he reveals Maradona’s newell’s shirt vs Maradona’s debut goal for Newell’s, I’m absolutely speechless....pic.twitter.com/esRdjxKn1C — Haz (@pubIad) November 29, 2020 × Are you telling me that Messi scored the same goal and with the same shirt as Maradona? Insane 🤯🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/v33DR6NUuP — River Plate News (@lnfoCARP) November 29, 2020 × One legend pays tribute to another legend.#Maradona #Messi ❤ pic.twitter.com/4twx7HDQGK — wazeermurtaza399 (@balti_northboy) November 30, 2020 × 1993 ⏩ 2020 27 years later, Lionel Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona in the only way he knew how 🖤❤️ pic.twitter.com/1lXqDfn35T — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 30, 2020 × Lahoz gave only one card in the Barça vs Osasuna game (to Messi for his Maradona tribute). That's the fewest number of cards Lahoz gave in a Liga game since 2018! pic.twitter.com/bozlReaYVF — adil (@Barca19stats) November 30, 2020 × Messi and Maradona shared the pitch together in 2005 – in an exhibition match featuring the greats of Argentine football. Messi was 18 and Maradona was 45. Maradona briefly coached Messi at international level when he was in charge of the Argentine team from 2008 to 2010. “Even if I played for a million years, I’d never come close to Maradona,” Messi said. "Not that I’d want to anyway. He’s the greatest there’s ever been.”

Lionel Messi's Newell's Old Boys shirt tribute to Diego Maradona wins hearts

Wolves forward Raul Jimenez on Sunday fractured his skull in a brutal clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz, his club provided an update on Monday. The Mexican striker received treatment for around 10 minutes on the pitch before being rushed to the hospital.&nbsp;

Wolves ended up winning the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/premier-league">Premier League</a>&nbsp;game at Arsenal for the first time in 40 years said the key striker would remain under observation for a few days.&nbsp;

"Raul is comfortable following an operation last night, which he underwent in a London hospital," read the club statement.

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Jeez, this looks awful. Hope David Luiz and Raul Jimenez are both okay 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/ya33oDDtGc">pic.twitter.com/ya33oDDtGc</a>
— thomas (@FClMthomas) <a href="https://twitter.com/FClMthomas/status/1333130987837005841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tottenham-take-back-top-spot-but-not-happy-claims-mourinho-346377" hreflang="en">Tottenham take back top spot but not 'happy', claims Mourinho</a>

"He has since seen his partner Daniela and is now resting. He will remain under observation for a few days while he begins his recovery.

"The club would like to thank the medical staff at Arsenal, the NHS paramedics, hospital staff and surgeons who, through their skill and early response, were of such help.

"The club ask that Raul and his family are now afforded a period of space and privacy, before any further updates are provided in due course."

David Luiz remained on the pitch with blood visible into a white bandage wrapped around his head until half-time.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/selfish-or-protecting-the-players-klopps-complaints-divide-managers-346374" hreflang="en">'Selfish' or 'protecting the players'? Klopp's complaints divide managers</a>

Arsenal manager backed the decision by saying that Luiz had shown no signs of concussion and was only taken off was the Brazilian defender was concerned about the big cut.

Notably, there have been calls for temporary substitutes to be used like in ruby union with the player given a thorough examination without the medics rushing the case.&nbsp;

"Too often in football we see players returning to the pitch having undergone a concussion assessment only to be withdrawn a few minutes later when it is clear that they are not fit to continue," said Luke Griggs, chief executive of brain injury charity Headway.

"That is the very reason why we urgently need temporary concussion substitutes in football.

"You simply cannot take a risk with head injuries."

IFAB, football’s lawmakers, have opened the door for concussion subs to be used on trial basis with FA Cup likely to be used as the initial platform. 
&nbsp;

Wolves forward Raul Jimenez on Sunday fractured his skull in a brutal clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz, his club provided an update on Monday. The Mexican striker received treatment for around 10 minutes on the pitch before being rushed to the hospital.

Wolves forward Raul Jimenez on Sunday fractured his skull in a brutal clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz, his club provided an update on Monday. The Mexican striker received treatment for around 10 minutes on the pitch before being rushed to the hospital. Wolves ended up winning the Premier League game at Arsenal for the first time in 40 years said the key striker would remain under observation for a few days. "Raul is comfortable following an operation last night, which he underwent in a London hospital," read the club statement. Jeez, this looks awful. Hope David Luiz and Raul Jimenez are both okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ya33oDDtGc — thomas (@FClMthomas) November 29, 2020 × ALSO READ: Tottenham take back top spot but not 'happy', claims Mourinho "He has since seen his partner Daniela and is now resting. He will remain under observation for a few days while he begins his recovery. "The club would like to thank the medical staff at Arsenal, the NHS paramedics, hospital staff and surgeons who, through their skill and early response, were of such help. "The club ask that Raul and his family are now afforded a period of space and privacy, before any further updates are provided in due course." David Luiz remained on the pitch with blood visible into a white bandage wrapped around his head until half-time. ALSO READ: 'Selfish' or 'protecting the players'? Klopp's complaints divide managers Arsenal manager backed the decision by saying that Luiz had shown no signs of concussion and was only taken off was the Brazilian defender was concerned about the big cut. Notably, there have been calls for temporary substitutes to be used like in ruby union with the player given a thorough examination without the medics rushing the case. "Too often in football we see players returning to the pitch having undergone a concussion assessment only to be withdrawn a few minutes later when it is clear that they are not fit to continue," said Luke Griggs, chief executive of brain injury charity Headway. "That is the very reason why we urgently need temporary concussion substitutes in football. "You simply cannot take a risk with head injuries." IFAB, football’s lawmakers, have opened the door for concussion subs to be used on trial basis with FA Cup likely to be used as the initial platform.

Wolves' Raul Jimenez out with fractured skull in horror collision

A hearse bearing the flag-draped coffin of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona rolled through the center of Buenos Aires Thursday as thousands of fans bade him a final farewell.

Amid blaring sirens and surrounded by motorcycle police outriders, the funeral cortege swept quickly through the streets around the presidential palace, where thousands of fans had filed past Maradona's coffin since early morning.&nbsp;

The lying in state, which had been extended to cope with the crowds surrounding the palace, was cut short by the family and officials after unruly fans took over an inner courtyard of the presidency.

Police then clashed with fans in the city center as the event threatened to descend into chaos.

The cortege avoided the main 9 de Julio avenue where many fans had gathered, and instead sped onto a highway out of the capital, following by dozens of photographers and cameramen on motorbikes.

Maradona was to be laid to rest at the Jardin de Paz cemetery on the outskirts of the Argentine capital after a private family ceremony.&nbsp;

A hearse bearing the flag-draped coffin of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona rolled through the center of Buenos Aires Thursday as thousands of fans bade him a final farewell.

A hearse bearing the flag-draped coffin of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona rolled through the center of Buenos Aires Thursday as thousands of fans bade him a final farewell. Amid blaring sirens and surrounded by motorcycle police outriders, the funeral cortege swept quickly through the streets around the presidential palace, where thousands of fans had filed past Maradona's coffin since early morning. The lying in state, which had been extended to cope with the crowds surrounding the palace, was cut short by the family and officials after unruly fans took over an inner courtyard of the presidency. Police then clashed with fans in the city center as the event threatened to descend into chaos. The cortege avoided the main 9 de Julio avenue where many fans had gathered, and instead sped onto a highway out of the capital, following by dozens of photographers and cameramen on motorbikes. Maradona was to be laid to rest at the Jardin de Paz cemetery on the outskirts of the Argentine capital after a private family ceremony.

Maradona funeral cortege heads to cemetery near Buenos Aires

Napoli's players honoured club legend Diego Maradona on Thursday by stepping out onto the pitch wearing his number 10 jersey before their 2-0 Europa League win over Rijeka.

"Diego is a legend and will never die," said Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso.

"Since yesterday you could see that the city breathed a different atmosphere.

"We hope to dedicate something important to him and win a trophy.

"In this city we have talked about it for too many years."

Rijeka did not spoil the tribute with Napoli beating their modest rivals thanks to an own-goal from the visitor's Italian left-back Armando Anastasio before the break.

The Naples-born player took a touch to a Matteo Politano goal-bound effort, and was credited with the goal.&nbsp;

Hirving Lozano sealed victory with quarter of an hour to go, firing in a Lorenzo Insigne cross.

Gattuso's side ended their two-match losing streak at their home stadium to take top place in Group F with Rijeka bottom without a win in four games.

"I have many good memories," recalled Gattuso.

"I had the opportunity to talk many times with Diego, to have dinner several times with him.&nbsp;

"He has done so many extraordinary things. He made mistakes in his private life, but for what he did he will remain always alive.&nbsp;

"Diego came from another planet and he will live forever like all legends.

"I would have liked to tackle him as a player," added former Italy World Cup winner Gattuso.

Captain Insigne had earlier led the tributes alongside fans gathered outside the San Paolo Stadium before the game, Napoli's first since Maradona's death at the age of 60 on Wednesday.

All wearing black armbands, the team also wore Maradona's iconic jersey during the team presentation and minute's silence, under a photo projected on a large screen of the man who led Napoli to league titles in 1987 and 1990 and the UEFA Cup in 1989.

Throughout the day, supporters thronged in front of the San Paolo stadium, which could soon be renamed in honour of Maradona.&nbsp;

"I believe it is right to baptise the San Paolo with your name to still have you with us," wrote club president Aurelio de Laurentiis on the club's website.

A plaque was put up on the gates of the stadium which read "Diego Armando Maradona Stadium" and bore the face of the fans' Argentine hero.

Blue-white scarves, flowers, photos of Maradona and shirts stamped with number 10 were left in memory of the player whose seven seasons between 1984-1991 left an indelible mark on Neapolitans.

An hour before kick-off, there were still several hundred fans singing in front of the stadium.

Other Neapolitans, even more numerous, gathered in Piazza del Plebiscito in the centre of Naples.&nbsp;

Shortly before the match, Insigne and former Napoli storekeeper, Tommaso Starace, left the stadium to join the tributes by laying a wreath at the foot of the gates.

"Maradona means a lot, not just to me but to all Neapolitans. He has always stood up for us, he has always held us in his heart and we must do the same," said Insigne.

A few hundred fans remained outside the stadium during the game but most left before kick-off.

The Europa League match took place behind closed doors, like all matches in Italy because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Napoli's players honoured club legend Diego Maradona on Thursday by stepping out onto the pitch wearing his number 10 jersey before their 2-0 Europa League win over Rijeka.

Napoli's players honoured club legend Diego Maradona on Thursday by stepping out onto the pitch wearing his number 10 jersey before their 2-0 Europa League win over Rijeka. "Diego is a legend and will never die," said Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso. "Since yesterday you could see that the city breathed a different atmosphere. "We hope to dedicate something important to him and win a trophy. "In this city we have talked about it for too many years." Rijeka did not spoil the tribute with Napoli beating their modest rivals thanks to an own-goal from the visitor's Italian left-back Armando Anastasio before the break. The Naples-born player took a touch to a Matteo Politano goal-bound effort, and was credited with the goal. Hirving Lozano sealed victory with quarter of an hour to go, firing in a Lorenzo Insigne cross. Gattuso's side ended their two-match losing streak at their home stadium to take top place in Group F with Rijeka bottom without a win in four games. "I have many good memories," recalled Gattuso. "I had the opportunity to talk many times with Diego, to have dinner several times with him. "He has done so many extraordinary things. He made mistakes in his private life, but for what he did he will remain always alive. "Diego came from another planet and he will live forever like all legends. "I would have liked to tackle him as a player," added former Italy World Cup winner Gattuso. Captain Insigne had earlier led the tributes alongside fans gathered outside the San Paolo Stadium before the game, Napoli's first since Maradona's death at the age of 60 on Wednesday. All wearing black armbands, the team also wore Maradona's iconic jersey during the team presentation and minute's silence, under a photo projected on a large screen of the man who led Napoli to league titles in 1987 and 1990 and the UEFA Cup in 1989. Throughout the day, supporters thronged in front of the San Paolo stadium, which could soon be renamed in honour of Maradona. "I believe it is right to baptise the San Paolo with your name to still have you with us," wrote club president Aurelio de Laurentiis on the club's website. A plaque was put up on the gates of the stadium which read "Diego Armando Maradona Stadium" and bore the face of the fans' Argentine hero. Blue-white scarves, flowers, photos of Maradona and shirts stamped with number 10 were left in memory of the player whose seven seasons between 1984-1991 left an indelible mark on Neapolitans. An hour before kick-off, there were still several hundred fans singing in front of the stadium. Other Neapolitans, even more numerous, gathered in Piazza del Plebiscito in the centre of Naples. Shortly before the match, Insigne and former Napoli storekeeper, Tommaso Starace, left the stadium to join the tributes by laying a wreath at the foot of the gates. "Maradona means a lot, not just to me but to all Neapolitans. He has always stood up for us, he has always held us in his heart and we must do the same," said Insigne. A few hundred fans remained outside the stadium during the game but most left before kick-off. The Europa League match took place behind closed doors, like all matches in Italy because of the coronavirus pandemic.

'Diego will never die:' Napoli honour Maradona with Europa League win

Jose Mourinho takes his table-topping Tottenham side to former club Chelsea this weekend determined to prove he is back where he belongs at the top of the Premier League.

Four straight wins have taken Spurs to 20 points after nine games, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, but Frank Lampard's Chelsea are just two points behind them.

Champions Liverpool travel to Brighton, while goal-shy Manchester City host Burnley in the unaccustomed position of 13th in the table and Arsenal seek&nbsp;a win to lift them out of their slump.

AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points ahead of the weekend action in the Premier League.

<h2>Mourinho has point to prove</h2>

Spurs boss Mourinho has a point to prove against Lampard, with whom he won two Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho and the former Chelsea midfielder-turned-manager have met four times in different dugouts.

Lampard gave Mourinho a bloody nose when his Derby side dumped Manchester United, then managed by the Mourinho, out of the League Cup on penalties in 2018.

After returning to Chelsea as manager, Lampard twice outwitted his former boss, by now in charge at Tottenham, in the Premier League last season.

The 57-year-old veteran will be hoping this season's League Cup win against Chelsea on penalties has turned the tide. He has never lost three consecutive league matches against the same manager or club before.

Mourinho was keen to play down title talk after last week's impressive 2-0 win at home to Manchester City, which took them top.

"People cannot expect us to come here and after one season we are fighting for the title," he told the BBC.&nbsp;

"We are not fighting for the title, we are just fighting to win every match. But we are going to lose matches, we are going to draw matches."

But, like it or not, Spurs&nbsp;are in the title mix and will have to get used to the pressure, which will be ramped up on Sunday.

<h2>Can Arteta stop the rot?</h2>

Arsenal's indifferent start to the season has left them languishing 12th in the Premier League table, with just four points from their past five matches.&nbsp;

Mikel Arteta, whose side host Wolves on Sunday, remains optimistic despite his side's poor run and struggles in front of goal -- Arsenal have now not scored from open play in five Premier League games.

"When I see the young talents we have got here and the future that we can produce for them, it's things that get me really excited," he said.

"We know that we are going to go through difficult periods because you don't change issues that have been going on for years in a small amount of time."

Fans have been patient so far with their manager, who arrived late last year, but will start to get edgy unless they see an upturn in results soon.

<h2>City search for goals</h2>

Manchester City, who host Burnley on Saturday, have not scored more than once in a Premier League match since September.

It was the same old story last weekend. City had 22 shots in their 2-0 defeat against Tottenham, who mustered just four shots, with two on target.

The club's record goalscorer, Sergio Aguero, had a brief runout in Wednesday's 1-0 win at Olympiakos as he makes his way back to fitness following a hamstring injury.

City boss Guardiola said this week he was being cautious with the Argentine striker.

"We have many, many games to play this season and we'll need him," he said. "What we want is him to recover in his best condition."

But it is a difficult balancing act for the manager, whose side are already eight points behind Spurs and Liverpool.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday

Crystal Palace v Newcastle (2000)

Jose Mourinho takes his table-topping Tottenham side to former club Chelsea this weekend determined to prove he is back where he belongs at the top of the Premier League.

Jose Mourinho takes his table-topping Tottenham side to former club Chelsea this weekend determined to prove he is back where he belongs at the top of the Premier League. Four straight wins have taken Spurs to 20 points after nine games, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, but Frank Lampard's Chelsea are just two points behind them. Champions Liverpool travel to Brighton, while goal-shy Manchester City host Burnley in the unaccustomed position of 13th in the table and Arsenal seek a win to lift them out of their slump. AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points ahead of the weekend action in the Premier League. Mourinho has point to prove Spurs boss Mourinho has a point to prove against Lampard, with whom he won two Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho and the former Chelsea midfielder-turned-manager have met four times in different dugouts. Lampard gave Mourinho a bloody nose when his Derby side dumped Manchester United, then managed by the Mourinho, out of the League Cup on penalties in 2018. After returning to Chelsea as manager, Lampard twice outwitted his former boss, by now in charge at Tottenham, in the Premier League last season. The 57-year-old veteran will be hoping this season's League Cup win against Chelsea on penalties has turned the tide. He has never lost three consecutive league matches against the same manager or club before. Mourinho was keen to play down title talk after last week's impressive 2-0 win at home to Manchester City, which took them top. "People cannot expect us to come here and after one season we are fighting for the title," he told the BBC. "We are not fighting for the title, we are just fighting to win every match. But we are going to lose matches, we are going to draw matches." But, like it or not, Spurs are in the title mix and will have to get used to the pressure, which will be ramped up on Sunday. Can Arteta stop the rot? Arsenal's indifferent start to the season has left them languishing 12th in the Premier League table, with just four points from their past five matches. Mikel Arteta, whose side host Wolves on Sunday, remains optimistic despite his side's poor run and struggles in front of goal -- Arsenal have now not scored from open play in five Premier League games. "When I see the young talents we have got here and the future that we can produce for them, it's things that get me really excited," he said. "We know that we are going to go through difficult periods because you don't change issues that have been going on for years in a small amount of time." Fans have been patient so far with their manager, who arrived late last year, but will start to get edgy unless they see an upturn in results soon. City search for goals Manchester City, who host Burnley on Saturday, have not scored more than once in a Premier League match since September. It was the same old story last weekend. City had 22 shots in their 2-0 defeat against Tottenham, who mustered just four shots, with two on target. The club's record goalscorer, Sergio Aguero, had a brief runout in Wednesday's 1-0 win at Olympiakos as he makes his way back to fitness following a hamstring injury. City boss Guardiola said this week he was being cautious with the Argentine striker. "We have many, many games to play this season and we'll need him," he said. "What we want is him to recover in his best condition." But it is a difficult balancing act for the manager, whose side are already eight points behind Spurs and Liverpool. Fixtures (all times GMT) Friday Crystal Palace v Newcastle (2000)

Mourinho and Lampard brace for Premier League summit meeting

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/in-grief-filled-farewell-diego-maradona-laid-to-rest-in-bella-vista-cemetery-345901">Diego Maradona was laid to rest on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in the Bella Vista cemetery</a> after a chaotic public event on Friday. While Maradona’s demise has left a huge void in the world of football, tributes continue to pour in for the 1986 World Cup-winner and a true legend of the game.&nbsp;

In an exclusive interaction with WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Argentina in India, Martin Via said that Maradona was the most human among all the Gods while adding he was a fallen angel, who produced magic with the ball and gave uncountable joyous moments. &nbsp;

“If you have followed the messages coming from Argentine. Something that impacted me was it was not grief, it was joy people were crying with love, singing his name, the chants. Everyone has been crying for the last two days but everyone is happy. Everyone is thanking Maradona for what he gave us. It is a sad day,” Martin Via told WION.&nbsp;

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/diego-maradona-unabashed-and-outspoken-most-famous-quotes-by-argentine-legend-345634">Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend</a>

Thousands gathered outside the presidential palace in Buenos Aires to catch a glimpse of Maradona’s coffin and paid their last respect to the great man, who spent the majority of his career playing for Napoli while taking the field for gigantic clubs like Barcelona and Sevilla.&nbsp;

“Where Maradona was born was part of a poor part of Buenos Aires. Maradona taught everyone if you have courage you can achieve anything. But he was outspoken and took on the power and was never afraid to speak. He was an important figure,” Martin Via further said.

Maradona’s demise sparked mourning around the world as millions took to social media and streets to express their grief on the passing away of arguably the greatest hero Argentina has ever produced.

When asked which shade of Maradona has left the most impact in Argentina – the footballer or the man who was engulfed in controversies and addiction issues – Martin Via beautifully summed up what Maradona means to the Argentine people.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-cup-winner-napoli-legend-drug-addict-rise-and-fall-of-diego-maradona-345411">World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona</a>

“People remember two parts of Diego Maradona. Maradona the footballer, Maradona other man in his personal life. He lived many many lives. I remember my grandparent, who was quite attached to football. He could not talk about Maradona because he lived over the top life. He was a very good player but his life was different. We love Maradona because he is most human among all the gods. He is a fallen angel he represents humanity the one who produced magic with the ball and that man who suffered many problems in his life,” Martin Via added.

Maradona was laid to rest on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in the Bella Vista cemetery on Friday.

Diego Maradona was laid to rest on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in the Bella Vista cemetery after a chaotic public event on Friday. While Maradona’s demise has left a huge void in the world of football, tributes continue to pour in for the 1986 World Cup-winner and a true legend of the game.

Diego Maradona was laid to rest on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in the Bella Vista cemetery after a chaotic public event on Friday. While Maradona’s demise has left a huge void in the world of football, tributes continue to pour in for the 1986 World Cup-winner and a true legend of the game. In an exclusive interaction with WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Argentina in India, Martin Via said that Maradona was the most human among all the Gods while adding he was a fallen angel, who produced magic with the ball and gave uncountable joyous moments. “If you have followed the messages coming from Argentine. Something that impacted me was it was not grief, it was joy people were crying with love, singing his name, the chants. Everyone has been crying for the last two days but everyone is happy. Everyone is thanking Maradona for what he gave us. It is a sad day,” Martin Via told WION. IN PICS | Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend Thousands gathered outside the presidential palace in Buenos Aires to catch a glimpse of Maradona’s coffin and paid their last respect to the great man, who spent the majority of his career playing for Napoli while taking the field for gigantic clubs like Barcelona and Sevilla. “Where Maradona was born was part of a poor part of Buenos Aires. Maradona taught everyone if you have courage you can achieve anything. But he was outspoken and took on the power and was never afraid to speak. He was an important figure,” Martin Via further said. Maradona’s demise sparked mourning around the world as millions took to social media and streets to express their grief on the passing away of arguably the greatest hero Argentina has ever produced. When asked which shade of Maradona has left the most impact in Argentina – the footballer or the man who was engulfed in controversies and addiction issues – Martin Via beautifully summed up what Maradona means to the Argentine people. IN PICS | World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona “People remember two parts of Diego Maradona. Maradona the footballer, Maradona other man in his personal life. He lived many many lives. I remember my grandparent, who was quite attached to football. He could not talk about Maradona because he lived over the top life. He was a very good player but his life was different. We love Maradona because he is most human among all the gods. He is a fallen angel he represents humanity the one who produced magic with the ball and that man who suffered many problems in his life,” Martin Via added. Maradona was laid to rest on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in the Bella Vista cemetery on Friday.

Diego Maradona was most human among all the gods: Martin Via to WION

The world of football was dealt a huge blow on Wednesday with the news of Diego Maradona’s passing at the age of 60. In Spain, there was particular sadness as so many of those currently at the heart of Spanish football knew the Argentine or were touched by him from his time in LaLiga.

It was in LaLiga that Maradona took his first steps in European football, joining Barcelona for a then-world-record fee of $7.6million after starring in his home country for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors. Joan Gaspart, who was the vice-president at Barcelona at the time, later revealed in interviews that the Barça directors who went to Argentina to work on the signing had to travel in a tank because the Argentine authorities feared for their safety.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/in-grief-filled-farewell-diego-maradona-laid-to-rest-in-bella-vista-cemetery-345901" hreflang="en">In grief-filled farewell, Diego Maradona laid to rest in Bella Vista cemetery</a>

Prizing Maradona away from his loyal fans in Buenos Aires was tough, but it was worth it. Barcelona had acquired an elite player. Injury and illness meant Maradona didn’t play as many games for the&nbsp;Blaugrana&nbsp;as the club had hoped, but when he did take to the pitch of Europe’s biggest stadium it was quite a spectacle.

Even at the Bernabéu, the home of Barcelona’s eternal rivals Real Madrid, Maradona impressed. In one match, he was even applauded by the fans of the capital city side, with white handkerchiefs waved respectfully in the air after Maradona performed a graceful sidestep right next to the goal line to leave right-back Juan José flying into the post as the No.10 rolled the ball into the net.

“I remember our early training sessions with him, where the rest of the team were so amazed that they just stood and watched him,” Lobo Carrasco, one of the other Barcelona squad members at that time, recalled when looking back to that era.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/diego-maradona-unabashed-and-outspoken-most-famous-quotes-by-argentine-legend-345634">Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend</a>

After leaving Barcelona to embark on his iconic adventure with Napoli in 1984, Maradona returned to Spain in 1992. This time he signed with Sevilla FC and reunited with Carlos Bilardo, who’d been the coach as Argentina won the 1986 World Cup in Mexico with Maradona as the star of the show.

It was only one season, but that 1992/93 campaign was one that all&nbsp;Sevillistas&nbsp;from that time still remember. In his first home game at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Maradona scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Real Zaragoza. Who else?

It wasn’t peak Maradona at Sevilla and he’d been out of the game for the year before his arrival, but his mere presence made an impact across the club. Fans would arrive at the stadium early just to watch his famous warm-ups, while the forward made an impact on the young players in that squad, players such as Diego Simeone or current Sevilla Sporting Director Monchi. “He helped me in a spectacular way at Sevilla,” Simeone remembered. Monchi, meanwhile, has often told a story that sums up Maradona’s generosity: “I was walking with Maradona one day and he saw that I had a Rolex, which I admitted to him was a fake one. Then, after training one day, he told me to wait behind and he gifted me a Cartier so that I’d never have to wear a fake watch again.”

Maradona intended to stay at Sevilla for some time, bringing several of his favourite cars to the city. But he departed at the end of the 1992/93 season, returning to Argentina.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/it-is-very-special-place-diego-maradonas-love-for-kolkata-345485">'It is very special place': Diego Maradona's love for Kolkata</a>

It wasn’t only at Barcelona and Sevilla that Maradona left an impact in Spain, though. He also impressed fans in Barcelona and Alicante, the cities where Argentina played during the 1982 World Cup. And, in 1987, Maradona even featured for Granada in a friendly match against Swedish side Malmö, doing so alongside his brothers Hugo and Lalo, who had just signed for the Andalusian club, at the old Estadio de Los Cármenes. That game remains to this day the only game in which the three brothers lined up on the same side.

Despite spending just a few years of his legendary career in Spain, Maradona made a huge impact, netting 27 goals in 62 games and winning the Copa del Rey, the Copa de la Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. His legacy will never be forgotten in Barcelona, Seville… or anywhere.

The world of football was dealt a huge blow on Wednesday with the news of Diego Maradona’s passing at the age of 60. In Spain, there was particular sadness as so many of those currently at the heart of Spanish football knew the Argentine or were touched by him from his time in LaLiga.

The world of football was dealt a huge blow on Wednesday with the news of Diego Maradona’s passing at the age of 60. In Spain, there was particular sadness as so many of those currently at the heart of Spanish football knew the Argentine or were touched by him from his time in LaLiga. It was in LaLiga that Maradona took his first steps in European football, joining Barcelona for a then-world-record fee of $7.6million after starring in his home country for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors. Joan Gaspart, who was the vice-president at Barcelona at the time, later revealed in interviews that the Barça directors who went to Argentina to work on the signing had to travel in a tank because the Argentine authorities feared for their safety. ALSO READ: In grief-filled farewell, Diego Maradona laid to rest in Bella Vista cemetery Prizing Maradona away from his loyal fans in Buenos Aires was tough, but it was worth it. Barcelona had acquired an elite player. Injury and illness meant Maradona didn’t play as many games for the Blaugrana as the club had hoped, but when he did take to the pitch of Europe’s biggest stadium it was quite a spectacle. Even at the Bernabéu, the home of Barcelona’s eternal rivals Real Madrid, Maradona impressed. In one match, he was even applauded by the fans of the capital city side, with white handkerchiefs waved respectfully in the air after Maradona performed a graceful sidestep right next to the goal line to leave right-back Juan José flying into the post as the No.10 rolled the ball into the net. “I remember our early training sessions with him, where the rest of the team were so amazed that they just stood and watched him,” Lobo Carrasco, one of the other Barcelona squad members at that time, recalled when looking back to that era. IN PICS | Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend After leaving Barcelona to embark on his iconic adventure with Napoli in 1984, Maradona returned to Spain in 1992. This time he signed with Sevilla FC and reunited with Carlos Bilardo, who’d been the coach as Argentina won the 1986 World Cup in Mexico with Maradona as the star of the show. It was only one season, but that 1992/93 campaign was one that all Sevillistas from that time still remember. In his first home game at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Maradona scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Real Zaragoza. Who else? It wasn’t peak Maradona at Sevilla and he’d been out of the game for the year before his arrival, but his mere presence made an impact across the club. Fans would arrive at the stadium early just to watch his famous warm-ups, while the forward made an impact on the young players in that squad, players such as Diego Simeone or current Sevilla Sporting Director Monchi. “He helped me in a spectacular way at Sevilla,” Simeone remembered. Monchi, meanwhile, has often told a story that sums up Maradona’s generosity: “I was walking with Maradona one day and he saw that I had a Rolex, which I admitted to him was a fake one. Then, after training one day, he told me to wait behind and he gifted me a Cartier so that I’d never have to wear a fake watch again.” Maradona intended to stay at Sevilla for some time, bringing several of his favourite cars to the city. But he departed at the end of the 1992/93 season, returning to Argentina. ALSO READ: 'It is very special place': Diego Maradona's love for Kolkata It wasn’t only at Barcelona and Sevilla that Maradona left an impact in Spain, though. He also impressed fans in Barcelona and Alicante, the cities where Argentina played during the 1982 World Cup. And, in 1987, Maradona even featured for Granada in a friendly match against Swedish side Malmö, doing so alongside his brothers Hugo and Lalo, who had just signed for the Andalusian club, at the old Estadio de Los Cármenes. That game remains to this day the only game in which the three brothers lined up on the same side. Despite spending just a few years of his legendary career in Spain, Maradona made a huge impact, netting 27 goals in 62 games and winning the Copa del Rey, the Copa de la Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. His legacy will never be forgotten in Barcelona, Seville… or anywhere.

La Liga mourns Diego Maradona's death, hold a minute’s silence before all matches this weekend

A massive crowd gave a grief-filled goodbye to Argentina’s favourite son Diego Maradona on Friday before the football legend was buried on the outskirts of Buenos Aires after a chaotic public event. The 1986 World Cup winner was laid to rest after a ceremony attended by family and close friends in the Bella Vista cemetery. Maradona breathed his last on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack. He was recovering from recent brain surgery in his house in Tigre, Argentina.

Maradona’s demise sparked mourning around the world as millions took to social media platforms to pay heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest football players of all time.&nbsp;

"I thought Diego was immortal, I thought he would never die on us. I feel a terrible sadness for a person who made us so, so happy," said 63-year-old bus driver Antonio Avila outside the cemetery.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/diego-maradona-unabashed-and-outspoken-most-famous-quotes-by-argentine-legend-345634">Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend</a>

The peaceful farewell ceremony was contrasted by the raucous scenes of his send-off in the Argentine capital that resembled his tumultuous life.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to stone-throwing fans that briefly threatened to mar the day of mourning.

In Naples, where Maradona is treated like a God among men after leading Napoli to two Serie A titles, fans held an all-day wake and players took to the pitch wearing his number 10 shirt.

Thousands of people had queued in Buenos Aires to go catch a glimpse of Maradona’s coffin, draped in the Argentine flag at the presidential palace.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-cup-winner-napoli-legend-drug-addict-rise-and-fall-of-diego-maradona-345411">World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona</a>

The hearse bearing Maradona’s coffin rolled through the gates of the presidency building into the streets of Buenos Aires.&nbsp;

As his playing days ended, his lifestyle began to take a toll. He was hospitalised three times in the last 20 years for serious health issues.

(From AFP inputs)

A massive crowd gave a grief-filled goodbye to Argentina’s favourite son Diego Maradona on Friday before the football legend was buried on the outskirts of Buenos Aires after a chaotic public event.

A massive crowd gave a grief-filled goodbye to Argentina’s favourite son Diego Maradona on Friday before the football legend was buried on the outskirts of Buenos Aires after a chaotic public event. The 1986 World Cup winner was laid to rest after a ceremony attended by family and close friends in the Bella Vista cemetery. Maradona breathed his last on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack. He was recovering from recent brain surgery in his house in Tigre, Argentina. Maradona’s demise sparked mourning around the world as millions took to social media platforms to pay heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest football players of all time. "I thought Diego was immortal, I thought he would never die on us. I feel a terrible sadness for a person who made us so, so happy," said 63-year-old bus driver Antonio Avila outside the cemetery. ALSO READ: Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend The peaceful farewell ceremony was contrasted by the raucous scenes of his send-off in the Argentine capital that resembled his tumultuous life. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to stone-throwing fans that briefly threatened to mar the day of mourning. In Naples, where Maradona is treated like a God among men after leading Napoli to two Serie A titles, fans held an all-day wake and players took to the pitch wearing his number 10 shirt. Thousands of people had queued in Buenos Aires to go catch a glimpse of Maradona’s coffin, draped in the Argentine flag at the presidential palace. ALSO READ: World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona The hearse bearing Maradona’s coffin rolled through the gates of the presidency building into the streets of Buenos Aires. As his playing days ended, his lifestyle began to take a toll. He was hospitalised three times in the last 20 years for serious health issues. (From AFP inputs)

In grief-filled farewell, Diego Maradona laid to rest in Bella Vista cemetery

The grand day when the Indian Super League (ISL) will taste the magic of its first-ever Kolkata Derby between ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in the tournament at the Tilak Maidan in Goa on Friday.&nbsp;

ATK Mohun Bagan are set to lock horns with arch-rivals SC East Bengal at the Tilak Maidan in Goa on Friday as Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 season hosts the first-ever Kolkata Derby in the tournament.&nbsp;

While ATK Mohun Bagan are the merger between ATK and Mohun Bagan, East Bengal are funded by Shree Cements as two of the iconic Indian clubs embark on a new journey together.&nbsp;

Ahead of the highly-anticipated Kolkata Derby in ISL, East Bengal head coach Robbie Fowler said, "It is a very tough game for our players. It will be a great start for the team and we will try to be ready for that challenge. There won’t be pressure on us because we are the new boys in the league and we’ll look to put all the pressure on ATK-Mohun Bagan."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atk-mohun-bagan-vs-sc-east-bengal-kolkata-derby-isl-set-to-witness-magic-of-100-year-old-rivalry-345825" hreflang="en">ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal, Kolkata Derby: ISL set to witness magic of 100-year-old rivalry</a>

<h2>All you need to know about ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal in ISL 2020-21:</h2>

<h2>When and what time will ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal match in ISL 2020-21 begin?</h2>

The ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal match in ISL 2020-21 will begin at 7:30 PM IST on Friday (November 27).

<h2>Which channel will live telecast ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal in ISL 2020-21?</h2>

The ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal match in ISL 2020-21 will be aired live on Star Sports 1 SD &amp; HD, Star Sports 2 SD &amp; HD (English); Star Sports Hindi 1 SD &amp; HD, and Star Sports 3.

<h2>How to watch the live streaming of the ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal in ISL 2020-21?</h2>

Star Sports Network's platforms will live steam the ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal match in ISL 2020-21. It can can be streamed live on Jio TV as well. 
&nbsp;

The grand day when the Indian Super League (ISL) will taste the magic of its first-ever Kolkata Derby between ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in the tournament at the Tilak Maidan in Goa on Friday.

The grand day when the Indian Super League (ISL) will taste the magic of its first-ever Kolkata Derby between ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in the tournament at the Tilak Maidan in Goa on Friday. ATK Mohun Bagan are set to lock horns with arch-rivals SC East Bengal at the Tilak Maidan in Goa on Friday as Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 season hosts the first-ever Kolkata Derby in the tournament. While ATK Mohun Bagan are the merger between ATK and Mohun Bagan, East Bengal are funded by Shree Cements as two of the iconic Indian clubs embark on a new journey together. Ahead of the highly-anticipated Kolkata Derby in ISL, East Bengal head coach Robbie Fowler said, "It is a very tough game for our players. It will be a great start for the team and we will try to be ready for that challenge. There won’t be pressure on us because we are the new boys in the league and we’ll look to put all the pressure on ATK-Mohun Bagan." ALSO READ: ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal, Kolkata Derby: ISL set to witness magic of 100-year-old rivalry All you need to know about ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal in ISL 2020-21: When and what time will ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal match in ISL 2020-21 begin? The ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal match in ISL 2020-21 will begin at 7:30 PM IST on Friday (November 27). Which channel will live telecast ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal in ISL 2020-21? The ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal match in ISL 2020-21 will be aired live on Star Sports 1 SD & HD, Star Sports 2 SD & HD (English); Star Sports Hindi 1 SD & HD, and Star Sports 3. How to watch the live streaming of the ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal in ISL 2020-21? Star Sports Network's platforms will live steam the ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal match in ISL 2020-21. It can can be streamed live on Jio TV as well.

ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal, ISL live streaming: When and where to watch ATK-MB vs SCEB online?

The grand day when the Indian Super League (ISL) will taste the magic of its first-ever Kolkata Derby between ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in the tournament at the Tilak Maidan in Goa on Friday.&nbsp;

ATK Mohun Bagan is a new entity formed by the merger of two clubs – ATK and Mohun Bagan whereas SC East Bengal is entering the competition after finding new owners in Shree Cements after years of dominance in the I-League.

The heated-rivalry between Mohun Bagan (now ATK Mohun Bagan) and East Bengal is over a century now. The two iconic clubs met for the first time on August 8, 1921. And the meeting between ATK Mohun Bagan and SC East Bengal is set to start new dawn for the monumental rivalry between the two Kolkata clubs.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/diego-maradona-unabashed-and-outspoken-most-famous-quotes-by-argentine-legend-345634" hreflang="en">Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend</a>

<h2>Kolkata Derby - a rivalry of ages</h2>

The Kolkata Derby – between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan – is regarded as one of the most passionate and heated rivalries in world football and is counted among the most elite encounters in the world of football.

Bhaichung Bhutia remains the top-scorer in the history of Kolkata Derby with 19 goals under his belt while playing for both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

Carrying forward the rivalry into the competition, SC East Bengal and ATK Mohun Bagan will take on each other for the first in what will be the first-ever Kolkata Derby of ISL. It will also mark the opening match for SC East Bengal in ISL.

The rivalry between the two Kolkata clubs, which is century old, has produced record-breaking attendance. The record of Kolkata Derby audience stands at 1,31,000 in the 1997 Federation at the Salt Lake Stadium.

However, on Friday, the Kolkata Derby will be played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 protocols.

ATK Mohun Bagan’s ISL 2020-21 season started with a win over Kerala Blasters whereas East Bengal will start their journey on Friday with the Kolkata Derby.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-cup-winner-napoli-legend-drug-addict-rise-and-fall-of-diego-maradona-345411">World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona</a>

<h2>SC East Bengal vs ATK Mohun Bagan - Squads:</h2>

<h2>SC East Bengal</h2>

Goalkeepers: Debjit Majumder, Sankar Roy, Mirshad Michu, Rafique Ali

Defenders: Samad Mallick, Abhishek Ambekar, Daniel Fox, Scott Neville, Narayan Das, Mohamad Irshad, Gurtej Singh, N Rohen Singh, Lalramchullova, Rana Gharami, Anil Chawan

Midfielders: Sehnaj Singh, Matti Steinmann, Jacques Maghoma, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Wahengbam Luwang, Bikash Jairu, Yumnam Singh, Surchandra Singh, Loken Meitei, Mohammed Rafique, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Anthony Pilkington, Milan Singh, Haobam Singh

Forwards: Balwant Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, CK Vineeth, Girik Khosla, Harmanpreet Singh

<h2>ATK Mohun Bagan</h2>

Goalkeepers: Arindam Bhattacharja, Dheeraj Singh, Avilash Paul, Arsh Shaikh, Aryan Niraj Lamba

Defenders: Tiri, Pritam Kotal, Prabir Das, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose, Sumit Rathi

Midfielders: Pronay Halder, Bradden Inman, Javier Hernandez, Edu Garcia, Carl McHugh, Glan Martins, Jayesh Rane, Michael Soosairaj, Boris Singh, Regin Michael, Sahil Sheikh, N Engson Singh

Forwards: David Williams, Roy Krishna, Manvir Singh, Md. Fardin Ali Molla

<h2>SC East Bengal vs ATK Mohun Bagan - Key Stats:</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Goals scored: East Bengal: 320 | Mohun Bagan: 313</li>
	<li>Last 5 meetings: Mohun Bagan 1 win | East Bengal 2 win | Draw 2</li>
	<li>Biggest win: East Bengal thrashing Mohun Bagan 5-0 in 1975 IFA Shield</li>
	<li>Head-to-head: East Bengal winning 129, Mohun Bagan 119 from 371 matches</li>
	<li>Overall Trophy Count: Mohun Bagan 253 | East Bengal 149</li>
</ul>

The grand day when the Indian Super League (ISL) will taste the magic of its first-ever Kolkata Derby between ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in the tournament at the Tilak Maidan in Goa on Friday. ATK Mohun Bagan is a new entity formed by the merger of two clubs – ATK and Mohun Bagan whereas SC East Bengal is entering the competition after finding new owners in Shree Cements after years of dominance in the I-League. The heated-rivalry between Mohun Bagan (now ATK Mohun Bagan) and East Bengal is over a century now. The two iconic clubs met for the first time on August 8, 1921. And the meeting between ATK Mohun Bagan and SC East Bengal is set to start new dawn for the monumental rivalry between the two Kolkata clubs. ALSO READ: Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend Kolkata Derby - a rivalry of ages The Kolkata Derby – between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan – is regarded as one of the most passionate and heated rivalries in world football and is counted among the most elite encounters in the world of football. Bhaichung Bhutia remains the top-scorer in the history of Kolkata Derby with 19 goals under his belt while playing for both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Carrying forward the rivalry into the competition, SC East Bengal and ATK Mohun Bagan will take on each other for the first in what will be the first-ever Kolkata Derby of ISL. It will also mark the opening match for SC East Bengal in ISL. The rivalry between the two Kolkata clubs, which is century old, has produced record-breaking attendance. The record of Kolkata Derby audience stands at 1,31,000 in the 1997 Federation at the Salt Lake Stadium. However, on Friday, the Kolkata Derby will be played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 protocols. ATK Mohun Bagan’s ISL 2020-21 season started with a win over Kerala Blasters whereas East Bengal will start their journey on Friday with the Kolkata Derby. IN PICS | World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona SC East Bengal vs ATK Mohun Bagan - Squads: SC East Bengal Goalkeepers: Debjit Majumder, Sankar Roy, Mirshad Michu, Rafique Ali Defenders: Samad Mallick, Abhishek Ambekar, Daniel Fox, Scott Neville, Narayan Das, Mohamad Irshad, Gurtej Singh, N Rohen Singh, Lalramchullova, Rana Gharami, Anil Chawan Midfielders: Sehnaj Singh, Matti Steinmann, Jacques Maghoma, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Wahengbam Luwang, Bikash Jairu, Yumnam Singh, Surchandra Singh, Loken Meitei, Mohammed Rafique, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Anthony Pilkington, Milan Singh, Haobam Singh Forwards: Balwant Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, CK Vineeth, Girik Khosla, Harmanpreet Singh ATK Mohun Bagan Goalkeepers: Arindam Bhattacharja, Dheeraj Singh, Avilash Paul, Arsh Shaikh, Aryan Niraj Lamba Defenders: Tiri, Pritam Kotal, Prabir Das, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose, Sumit Rathi Midfielders: Pronay Halder, Bradden Inman, Javier Hernandez, Edu Garcia, Carl McHugh, Glan Martins, Jayesh Rane, Michael Soosairaj, Boris Singh, Regin Michael, Sahil Sheikh, N Engson Singh Forwards: David Williams, Roy Krishna, Manvir Singh, Md. Fardin Ali Molla SC East Bengal vs ATK Mohun Bagan - Key Stats: Goals scored: East Bengal: 320 | Mohun Bagan: 313 Last 5 meetings: Mohun Bagan 1 win | East Bengal 2 win | Draw 2 Biggest win: East Bengal thrashing Mohun Bagan 5-0 in 1975 IFA Shield Head-to-head: East Bengal winning 129, Mohun Bagan 119 from 371 matches Overall Trophy Count: Mohun Bagan 253 | East Bengal 149

ATK Mohun Bagan vs SC East Bengal, Kolkata Derby: ISL set to witness magic of 100-year-old rivalry

Diego Maradona’s final words before he passed away on Wednesday have been revealed. Reportedly, Maradona admitted that he was not feeling well at breakfast before going to lie down. The Argentine great died on Wednesday, aged 60, after suffering a cardiac arrest in his home in Tigre, Argentina.

Maradona was recovering from recent brain surgery to remove a blood clot at the start of November and was accompanied by his nephew, Johnny Esposito, and a nurse.

According to a report in The Sun, Maradona completed his breakfast on Wednesday morning and complained of feeling cold before telling his nephew that he was going to lie down as he didn’t feel good.

It is being claimed that Maradona, before going to bed, said: “Me siento mal” - which translates in England to “I don’t feel well”.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/maradona-funeral-cortege-heads-to-cemetery-near-buenos-aires-345737" hreflang="en">Maradona funeral cortege heads to cemetery near Buenos Aires</a>

Maradona’s psychologist and psychiatrist both arrived at the site where it was concluded that he was unresponsive. 
According to a preliminary autopsy, reported by the Argentine media, they entered Maradona’s room after the World Cup-winner failed to respond to his nephew.

The report stated: “They went to his bedroom on the ground floor and spoke to him and he didn’t reply and they asked his nephew and an assistant to enter the room.

“They tried to wake him up and after failing to detect any vital signs made an unsuccessful attempt to revive him by practising CPR.

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”The first emergency medical responders on the scene continued the attempts to revive Maradona along with a surgeon who lives near the property, using adrenaline and atropine which is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of low heart rate."

As per the state prosecutors, Maradona died around midday local time with routine inquiry set to be completed before his death while confirming there is no suspicious occurrence.

Reportedly, Maradona died in his sleep from heart failure.&nbsp;

The prosecution general of San Isidro, John Broyad, said: “Diego Armando Maradona died around 12pm local time.

“The forensic police began their work at 4pm. No signs of any criminality or violence have been detected.

“The autopsy is being carried out to determine beyond any doubt the cause of death but we can say at this stage that everything is pointing to natural causes.”

Three days of national mourning have been announced by President Alberto Fernandez with public flocking the streets to pay tribute the legendary footballer.

Diego Maradona’s final words before he passed away on Wednesday have been revealed. Reportedly, Maradona admitted that he was not feeling well at breakfast before going to lie down.

Diego Maradona’s final words before he passed away on Wednesday have been revealed. Reportedly, Maradona admitted that he was not feeling well at breakfast before going to lie down. The Argentine great died on Wednesday, aged 60, after suffering a cardiac arrest in his home in Tigre, Argentina. Maradona was recovering from recent brain surgery to remove a blood clot at the start of November and was accompanied by his nephew, Johnny Esposito, and a nurse. According to a report in The Sun, Maradona completed his breakfast on Wednesday morning and complained of feeling cold before telling his nephew that he was going to lie down as he didn’t feel good. It is being claimed that Maradona, before going to bed, said: “Me siento mal” - which translates in England to “I don’t feel well”. ALSO READ: Maradona funeral cortege heads to cemetery near Buenos Aires Maradona’s psychologist and psychiatrist both arrived at the site where it was concluded that he was unresponsive. According to a preliminary autopsy, reported by the Argentine media, they entered Maradona’s room after the World Cup-winner failed to respond to his nephew. The report stated: “They went to his bedroom on the ground floor and spoke to him and he didn’t reply and they asked his nephew and an assistant to enter the room. “They tried to wake him up and after failing to detect any vital signs made an unsuccessful attempt to revive him by practising CPR. IN PICS | Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend ”The first emergency medical responders on the scene continued the attempts to revive Maradona along with a surgeon who lives near the property, using adrenaline and atropine which is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of low heart rate." As per the state prosecutors, Maradona died around midday local time with routine inquiry set to be completed before his death while confirming there is no suspicious occurrence. Reportedly, Maradona died in his sleep from heart failure. The prosecution general of San Isidro, John Broyad, said: “Diego Armando Maradona died around 12pm local time. “The forensic police began their work at 4pm. No signs of any criminality or violence have been detected. “The autopsy is being carried out to determine beyond any doubt the cause of death but we can say at this stage that everything is pointing to natural causes.” Three days of national mourning have been announced by President Alberto Fernandez with public flocking the streets to pay tribute the legendary footballer.

Diego Maradona's final words before his death revealed

Argentina legend Diego Maradona’s coffin arrived at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires for a period of lying in state. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-legend-diego-maradona-60-dies-of-heart-attack-345375">Maradona, aged 60, passed away on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest</a>.&nbsp;

The World Cup-winning Argentine maestro was recovering from brain surgery and died of a heart attack on Wednesday. Maradona was renowned for his majestic left-foot and impeccable control with the ball. He was most loved for his spells with clubs Boca Juniors in his homeland and Napoli in Italy, where he won club’s only two Serie A titles.

“You are eternal in every heart in world football,” the Twitter account of the Argentina national team posted alongside a picture of Maradona holding the World Cup.

Napoli’s Twitter feed said: “Always in our hearts, Ciao Diego.” Boca posted: “Eternal thanks. Eternal Diego.” 
Maradona also played for Barcelona and Sevilla, Argentinos Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina before starting on an indifferent managerial career.

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“Thank you for everything Diego. FC Barcelona expresses its deepest condolences regarding the death of Diego Armando Maradona, a player for our club (1982-84) and an icon of world football,” Barcelona said in a statement.

Maradona’s affair with drugs and alcohol is known to all which gave him the tag of a controversial footballer. His struggle with addiction – cocaine – and his weight was in contrast to many footballing greats. But despite all this, his god-gifted skills with the ball made him being regarded as arguably the greatest of all-time.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eternal-maradonas-death-plunges-argentina-football-into-mourning-345471" hreflang="en">'Eternal' Maradona's death plunges Argentina, football into mourning</a>

The former Napoli megastar had emergency surgery for a subdural haematoma, a blood clot on the brain. He was admitted to the hospital longer than expected as he was showing withdrawal symptoms for his dependency on alcohol before passing away on Wednesday after a heart attack.

Argentina legend Diego Maradona’s coffin arrived at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires for a period of lying in state. Maradona, aged 60, passed away on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Argentina legend Diego Maradona’s coffin arrived at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires for a period of lying in state. Maradona, aged 60, passed away on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. The World Cup-winning Argentine maestro was recovering from brain surgery and died of a heart attack on Wednesday. Maradona was renowned for his majestic left-foot and impeccable control with the ball. He was most loved for his spells with clubs Boca Juniors in his homeland and Napoli in Italy, where he won club’s only two Serie A titles. “You are eternal in every heart in world football,” the Twitter account of the Argentina national team posted alongside a picture of Maradona holding the World Cup. Napoli’s Twitter feed said: “Always in our hearts, Ciao Diego.” Boca posted: “Eternal thanks. Eternal Diego.” Maradona also played for Barcelona and Sevilla, Argentinos Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina before starting on an indifferent managerial career. IN PICS | World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona “Thank you for everything Diego. FC Barcelona expresses its deepest condolences regarding the death of Diego Armando Maradona, a player for our club (1982-84) and an icon of world football,” Barcelona said in a statement. Maradona’s affair with drugs and alcohol is known to all which gave him the tag of a controversial footballer. His struggle with addiction – cocaine – and his weight was in contrast to many footballing greats. But despite all this, his god-gifted skills with the ball made him being regarded as arguably the greatest of all-time. ALSO READ: 'Eternal' Maradona's death plunges Argentina, football into mourning The former Napoli megastar had emergency surgery for a subdural haematoma, a blood clot on the brain. He was admitted to the hospital longer than expected as he was showing withdrawal symptoms for his dependency on alcohol before passing away on Wednesday after a heart attack.

Diego Maradona's body arrives at presidential palace for period of lying in state

Fans worldwide paid tribute and Argentina was in mourning on Thursday after Diego Maradona, one of the greatest footballers of all time, died aged 60 after years of drug and alcohol problems.

Thousands of mourners, many in tears, and many wearing the World Cup winner's number 10 Argentina jersey, gathered in streets and at stadiums around Buenos Aires in a spontaneous celebration of the player and manager's riotous life.

Tributes poured in from around the world as supporters, players and government leaders from South America to Europe and Asia marked the passing of an undisputed maestro.

The outrageously skilful Maradona, widely remembered for his "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals, died of a heart attack while recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain, a member of his entourage told AFP.

Family members were summoned to Maradona's home north of Buenos Aires before his death was announced, triggering a wave of grief across the country and worldwide.

Lionel Messi, Argentina's modern-day superstar, led the tributes as he said: "He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal."

Brazilian legend Pele, 80, constantly compared with Maradona in the debate over football's greatest player, said he hoped they would one day "play together in the sky".

Hundreds of people were already queueing outside the presidential palace in Buenos Aires when Maradona's coffin arrived late on Wednesday to lie in state during a three-day period of national mourning.

Despite major coronavirus problems in Argentina, with more than 1.3 million cases, fans gathered at landmarks including Buenos Aires' Obelisk monument and Argentinos Juniors' Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where he started his career.

Elsewhere, underlining Maradona's global appeal, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar were among those to offer tributes, and one fan held back tears as he spoke to AFP in Beijing.

<h2>- 'Hand of God' -</h2>

Maradona, born in Lanus, just south of Buenos Aires, on October 30, 1960, also played for Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli in a career marked by wild highs and lows.

In probably his most famous moment, he leapt and used his fist to score past England's Peter Shilton in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals, memorably describing the goal as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God".

Minutes later he weaved through six English defenders from the halfway line to score an unforgettable solo second which was later honoured as FIFA's "Goal of the century".

The two contrasting goals perfectly encapsulated the mixture of brilliant skill and often outlandish behaviour that ran through Maradona's life.

Maradona's career was crowned by his performances at that World Cup, when he captained Argentina to glory.

After dismissing England he&nbsp;scored twice in the semi-final against Belgium, slaloming past four defenders for his second, and set up the 86th-minute winner in the final against West Germany.

It was to prove the highlight for Maradona, who inspired Argentina to the 1990 final only for West Germany to take their revenge. In 1994 -- after an infamous, eye-bulging goal celebration against Greece -- he failed a drugs test and was sent home in disgrace.&nbsp;

Gary Lineker, who was in the beaten England team in 1986, said Maradona was "arguably the greatest of all time", adding: "After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he'll finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiego."

Excesses with drugs and alcohol had long taken their toll on Maradona's health. He was admitted to hospital three times in the last 20 years for serious health issues due to his addictions.

<h2>- 'Ciao Diego' -</h2>

Maradona grew up in poverty, but his extraordinary talent was clear from a young age at Argentinos Juniors and Boca.

He moved to Barcelona but was singled out for rough treatment by opposing defenders and soon fell out of love with the Spanish club.

It was in Naples where Maradona would enchant an entire city by leading the then unfashionable Napoli to their only two Italian league titles in 1987 and 1990, befriending a mafia family along the way.

"Always in our hearts. Ciao Diego," Napoli tweeted, while the club's president and Naples' mayor both called for Napoli's Stadio San Paolo to be renamed after Maradona.

In recent years, Maradona, reduced to hobbling by the ravages of his career and lifestyle, had coached in the UAE, Mexico and Argentina without ever hitting the heights of his playing days.

Maradona married his long-time&nbsp;girlfriend Claudia&nbsp;Villafane in 1984. They had two&nbsp;daughters, Dalma&nbsp;and&nbsp;Gianinna,&nbsp;but the relationship was punctuated by Maradona's extra-marital affairs and they divorced in 2004.

He also had a son, Diego Junior, born in Naples in 1986, although he only acknowledged paternity in 2004.

In 2000, FIFA ran an online Player of the Century poll.&nbsp;Maradona gained 54 percent of the vote and Pele was second with 18 percent.&nbsp;FIFA declared&nbsp;them&nbsp;joint winners.

Fans worldwide paid tribute and Argentina was in mourning on Thursday after Diego Maradona, one of the greatest footballers of all time, died aged 60 after years of drug and alcohol problems.

Fans worldwide paid tribute and Argentina was in mourning on Thursday after Diego Maradona, one of the greatest footballers of all time, died aged 60 after years of drug and alcohol problems. Thousands of mourners, many in tears, and many wearing the World Cup winner's number 10 Argentina jersey, gathered in streets and at stadiums around Buenos Aires in a spontaneous celebration of the player and manager's riotous life. Tributes poured in from around the world as supporters, players and government leaders from South America to Europe and Asia marked the passing of an undisputed maestro. The outrageously skilful Maradona, widely remembered for his "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals, died of a heart attack while recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain, a member of his entourage told AFP. Family members were summoned to Maradona's home north of Buenos Aires before his death was announced, triggering a wave of grief across the country and worldwide. Lionel Messi, Argentina's modern-day superstar, led the tributes as he said: "He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal." Brazilian legend Pele, 80, constantly compared with Maradona in the debate over football's greatest player, said he hoped they would one day "play together in the sky". Hundreds of people were already queueing outside the presidential palace in Buenos Aires when Maradona's coffin arrived late on Wednesday to lie in state during a three-day period of national mourning. Despite major coronavirus problems in Argentina, with more than 1.3 million cases, fans gathered at landmarks including Buenos Aires' Obelisk monument and Argentinos Juniors' Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where he started his career. Elsewhere, underlining Maradona's global appeal, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar were among those to offer tributes, and one fan held back tears as he spoke to AFP in Beijing. - 'Hand of God' - Maradona, born in Lanus, just south of Buenos Aires, on October 30, 1960, also played for Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli in a career marked by wild highs and lows. In probably his most famous moment, he leapt and used his fist to score past England's Peter Shilton in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals, memorably describing the goal as "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God". Minutes later he weaved through six English defenders from the halfway line to score an unforgettable solo second which was later honoured as FIFA's "Goal of the century". The two contrasting goals perfectly encapsulated the mixture of brilliant skill and often outlandish behaviour that ran through Maradona's life. Maradona's career was crowned by his performances at that World Cup, when he captained Argentina to glory. After dismissing England he scored twice in the semi-final against Belgium, slaloming past four defenders for his second, and set up the 86th-minute winner in the final against West Germany. It was to prove the highlight for Maradona, who inspired Argentina to the 1990 final only for West Germany to take their revenge. In 1994 -- after an infamous, eye-bulging goal celebration against Greece -- he failed a drugs test and was sent home in disgrace. Gary Lineker, who was in the beaten England team in 1986, said Maradona was "arguably the greatest of all time", adding: "After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he'll finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiego." Excesses with drugs and alcohol had long taken their toll on Maradona's health. He was admitted to hospital three times in the last 20 years for serious health issues due to his addictions. - 'Ciao Diego' - Maradona grew up in poverty, but his extraordinary talent was clear from a young age at Argentinos Juniors and Boca. He moved to Barcelona but was singled out for rough treatment by opposing defenders and soon fell out of love with the Spanish club. It was in Naples where Maradona would enchant an entire city by leading the then unfashionable Napoli to their only two Italian league titles in 1987 and 1990, befriending a mafia family along the way. "Always in our hearts. Ciao Diego," Napoli tweeted, while the club's president and Naples' mayor both called for Napoli's Stadio San Paolo to be renamed after Maradona. In recent years, Maradona, reduced to hobbling by the ravages of his career and lifestyle, had coached in the UAE, Mexico and Argentina without ever hitting the heights of his playing days. Maradona married his long-time girlfriend Claudia Villafane in 1984. They had two daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, but the relationship was punctuated by Maradona's extra-marital affairs and they divorced in 2004. He also had a son, Diego Junior, born in Naples in 1986, although he only acknowledged paternity in 2004. In 2000, FIFA ran an online Player of the Century poll. Maradona gained 54 percent of the vote and Pele was second with 18 percent. FIFA declared them joint winners.

'Eternal' Maradona's death plunges Argentina, football into mourning

Diego Maradona’s demise left a massive void in the world of football. Regarded as one of the greatest to have taken the football pitch, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-legend-diego-maradona-60-dies-of-heart-attack-345375">Maradona, aged 60, breathed his last on Wednesday</a> after suffering a cardiac arrest. Tributes started to pour in as soon as the entire world was left stunned following the death of Maradona.

The former member of Barcelona and current head coach of Indian Super League (ISL) club Bengaluru FC, Carles Cuadrat, in an exclusive interaction with WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, paid rich tributes to Diego Armando Maradona as he recalled the Argentine maestro’s two-season with Barcelona – from 1982 to 1984.

“I fondly remember Maradona’s two-season at Barcelona. I was a ball-boy back then and it was a privilege to watch him weave his magic on the field. He used to help everyone with insights on match situations and provided confidence to others to execute their skills on the pitch. He came from a very humble background and realized the difficulties he faced during his younger days, so he never backed out from helping anyone,” Cuadrat told WION on Thursday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/diego-maradona-the-most-human-of-immortals-345619" hreflang="en">Diego Maradona, the Most Human of Immortals</a>

Cuadrat, who is currently in Goa for ISL 2020-21, recalled how Maradona used to help his teammates and was an outspoken voice in the dressing room – for the benefit of the club – while adding that he will remember Maradona as a guy who used to spread happiness from his football.

“I will forever remember some of our chit-chats after matches. He used to give great insights to us, the younger players, and I have heard of many incidents where he has helped players from the dressing room. Sometimes he was against the management, sometimes the rules but he never feared anyone or to say anything which he felt was right,” the Bengaluru FC coach, who was once part of the famed La Masia academy.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/diego-maradona-unabashed-and-outspoken-most-famous-quotes-by-argentine-legend-345634" hreflang="en">Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend</a>

“I will remember him as a little guy, who used to weave magic, pure magic, every weekend and the fans were crazy for him. There will be no one like Maradona,” Cuadrat said.

Maradona will be buried outside Buenos Aires on Thursday (Friday in India), his spokesman has confirmed. Maradona’s coffin arrived at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires for a period of lying in state on Wednesday. 
&nbsp;

Diego Maradona’s demise left a massive void in the world of football. Regarded as one of the greatest to have taken the football pitch, Maradona, aged 60, breathed his last on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Diego Maradona’s demise left a massive void in the world of football. Regarded as one of the greatest to have taken the football pitch, Maradona, aged 60, breathed his last on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. Tributes started to pour in as soon as the entire world was left stunned following the death of Maradona. The former member of Barcelona and current head coach of Indian Super League (ISL) club Bengaluru FC, Carles Cuadrat, in an exclusive interaction with WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, paid rich tributes to Diego Armando Maradona as he recalled the Argentine maestro’s two-season with Barcelona – from 1982 to 1984. “I fondly remember Maradona’s two-season at Barcelona. I was a ball-boy back then and it was a privilege to watch him weave his magic on the field. He used to help everyone with insights on match situations and provided confidence to others to execute their skills on the pitch. He came from a very humble background and realized the difficulties he faced during his younger days, so he never backed out from helping anyone,” Cuadrat told WION on Thursday. ALSO READ: Diego Maradona, the Most Human of Immortals Cuadrat, who is currently in Goa for ISL 2020-21, recalled how Maradona used to help his teammates and was an outspoken voice in the dressing room – for the benefit of the club – while adding that he will remember Maradona as a guy who used to spread happiness from his football. “I will forever remember some of our chit-chats after matches. He used to give great insights to us, the younger players, and I have heard of many incidents where he has helped players from the dressing room. Sometimes he was against the management, sometimes the rules but he never feared anyone or to say anything which he felt was right,” the Bengaluru FC coach, who was once part of the famed La Masia academy. IN PICS | Diego Maradona, unabashed and outspoken: Most famous quotes by Argentine legend “I will remember him as a little guy, who used to weave magic, pure magic, every weekend and the fans were crazy for him. There will be no one like Maradona,” Cuadrat said. Maradona will be buried outside Buenos Aires on Thursday (Friday in India), his spokesman has confirmed. Maradona’s coffin arrived at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires for a period of lying in state on Wednesday.

There will be no one like Diego Maradona: Bengaluru FC coach Carles Cuadrat to WION

People laid flowers and lit candles below the mural of Diego Maradona outside the stadium here that bears his name. A man cried inconsolably.

At the Obelisk in central Buenos Aires, another man waved a banner depicting Maradona that read, “God Is Argentine.”

There was a sense of incredulity in Argentina on Wednesday as word spread that the soccer star had died that morning at his home in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires. The government decreed three days of mourning.

Often called one of the game’s best players, Maradona was revered by his fellow Argentines — not just for his prowess on the field but also for his rise from poverty to global stardom. He stayed a national hero even as his personal life, which included long spates of drug and alcohol abuse, made him tabloid fodder around the world.

As people gathered across the country to honor the man often simply referred to “El Diego,” some chose the Buenos Aires stadium where he got his start in 1976, as a young player in the Argentinos Juniors club, and which was later renamed for him.

“The first time I saw him I couldn’t believe it,” said Hugo Daniel Santiuste, 66, who said he saw Maradona’s second-ever match at the stadium. “I had never seen anything like it.”

But even Argentines born too late to see him play in person were mourning.

“I feel like a member of my family just died,” said Joaquín López Castan, 19. “My entire life I wanted to play soccer like Maradona.”

Maradona underwent brain surgery earlier this month, and he had had numerous medical problems in the past. But his death, which a spokesman said was from a heart attack, still came as a shock to many.

“He was Maradona; he always managed to pull through,” said João Dejtiar, 19.

Several places around Buenos Aires became outdoor mourning spaces for fans, including the morgue where officials brought his body; his humble onetime home in Villa Fiorito, the impoverished area where he grew up; and La Bombonera stadium, where he once played as a member of the Boca Juniors club.

Hundreds also gathered in downtown Buenos Aires as the government planned what was expected to be a massive wake at the presidential palace Thursday.

At 10 p.m., people applauded from their balconies in honor of Maradona, who wore the traditional No. 10 jersey of a playmaker.

As Wednesday turned into Thursday, people seemed in no hurry to get home. Hundreds chanted and sang songs for Maradona outside the presidential palace as some started to line up for the wake.

“Of course, Maradona was the greatest soccer player this country has ever seen, but that doesn’t tell the full story. There is something that makes him much more than that,” said Alejandro Wall, a sports journalist. “Diego is the great narrator of Argentina."

Maradona is invariably remembered for leading Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup. In the infamous quarterfinal against England, he scored one of the most beautiful goals in the game’s history, as well as an illegal hand goal. (“It was scored a little bit with the head of Diego and a little with the hand of God,” he later said of that goal.)

The English were furious, but in Argentina — still suffering the humiliation of its 1982 defeat by Britain in the short war over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls Malvinas and claims as its own — Maradona was lauded.

“A narrative is created that the goal wasn’t illegal because in reality it was God doing justice after the defeat in the 1982 war,” said Lívia Gonçalves Magalhães, a historian at Federal Fluminense University in Brazil who studies the intersection of soccer and politics in South America.

“It was the happiest moment of my life,” said Juan José Azcurra, 67, his tears giving way to a smile as he recalled the goal. “I will never forget it.”

That World Cup was doubly sweet because “no one had faith in the team and in the end everything they did was marvelous,” said Veronica Moreira, an anthropologist who studies sport at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council, an Argentine government agency.

Argentina’s victory in the final against West Germany cemented Maradona’s position as the leader who took the underdog team to victory.

Beating the odds was a constant theme in Maradona’s life story. His rise from poverty was one reason that many Argentines continued to identify with him even as he became a world celebrity.

“He never stopped being part of the people,” said Gastón Tescusinsky, 44, who has a tattoo of Maradona on his arm. “He was always the kid from Fiorito.”

Maradona wore his leftist politics on his sleeve, and Magalhães noted that he would publicly criticize the leaders of FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, “without worrying about repercussions.”

“Maradona was a contradictory character who garnered a lot of empathy,” said Rodrigo Daskal, a professor who is a researcher at the Sports Study Center at San Martín National University. “Maradona was always authentic and never tried to dress up any part of his life.”

Maradona’s candor about his struggles with alcohol and drugs was appreciated by many of his fans, especially those who had experience with addiction.

“My old man had problems with drugs, who am I to judge Maradona?” said Pablo Neyret, 42, whose eyes welled up with tears.

Songs were written in Maradona’s honor, and some of his phrases entered Argentines’ everyday lexicon. One was “they cut off my legs,” which he said after being kicked out the 1994 World Cup for doping.

Victoria Fassa, 43, called Maradona “a rebel who was passionate above all else and said what he thought without caring about the consequences.”

She added, “He was 100% Argentine.”

People laid flowers and lit candles below the mural of Diego Maradona outside the stadium here that bears his name. A man cried inconsolably. At the Obelisk in central Buenos Aires, another man waved a banner depicting Maradona that read, “God Is Argentine.

People laid flowers and lit candles below the mural of Diego Maradona outside the stadium here that bears his name. A man cried inconsolably. At the Obelisk in central Buenos Aires, another man waved a banner depicting Maradona that read, “God Is Argentine.” There was a sense of incredulity in Argentina on Wednesday as word spread that the soccer star had died that morning at his home in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires. The government decreed three days of mourning. Often called one of the game’s best players, Maradona was revered by his fellow Argentines — not just for his prowess on the field but also for his rise from poverty to global stardom. He stayed a national hero even as his personal life, which included long spates of drug and alcohol abuse, made him tabloid fodder around the world. As people gathered across the country to honor the man often simply referred to “El Diego,” some chose the Buenos Aires stadium where he got his start in 1976, as a young player in the Argentinos Juniors club, and which was later renamed for him. “The first time I saw him I couldn’t believe it,” said Hugo Daniel Santiuste, 66, who said he saw Maradona’s second-ever match at the stadium. “I had never seen anything like it.” But even Argentines born too late to see him play in person were mourning. “I feel like a member of my family just died,” said Joaquín López Castan, 19. “My entire life I wanted to play soccer like Maradona.” Maradona underwent brain surgery earlier this month, and he had had numerous medical problems in the past. But his death, which a spokesman said was from a heart attack, still came as a shock to many. “He was Maradona; he always managed to pull through,” said João Dejtiar, 19. Several places around Buenos Aires became outdoor mourning spaces for fans, including the morgue where officials brought his body; his humble onetime home in Villa Fiorito, the impoverished area where he grew up; and La Bombonera stadium, where he once played as a member of the Boca Juniors club. Hundreds also gathered in downtown Buenos Aires as the government planned what was expected to be a massive wake at the presidential palace Thursday. At 10 p.m., people applauded from their balconies in honor of Maradona, who wore the traditional No. 10 jersey of a playmaker. As Wednesday turned into Thursday, people seemed in no hurry to get home. Hundreds chanted and sang songs for Maradona outside the presidential palace as some started to line up for the wake. “Of course, Maradona was the greatest soccer player this country has ever seen, but that doesn’t tell the full story. There is something that makes him much more than that,” said Alejandro Wall, a sports journalist. “Diego is the great narrator of Argentina." Maradona is invariably remembered for leading Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup. In the infamous quarterfinal against England, he scored one of the most beautiful goals in the game’s history, as well as an illegal hand goal. (“It was scored a little bit with the head of Diego and a little with the hand of God,” he later said of that goal.) The English were furious, but in Argentina — still suffering the humiliation of its 1982 defeat by Britain in the short war over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls Malvinas and claims as its own — Maradona was lauded. “A narrative is created that the goal wasn’t illegal because in reality it was God doing justice after the defeat in the 1982 war,” said Lívia Gonçalves Magalhães, a historian at Federal Fluminense University in Brazil who studies the intersection of soccer and politics in South America. “It was the happiest moment of my life,” said Juan José Azcurra, 67, his tears giving way to a smile as he recalled the goal. “I will never forget it.” That World Cup was doubly sweet because “no one had faith in the team and in the end everything they did was marvelous,” said Veronica Moreira, an anthropologist who studies sport at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council, an Argentine government agency. Argentina’s victory in the final against West Germany cemented Maradona’s position as the leader who took the underdog team to victory. Beating the odds was a constant theme in Maradona’s life story. His rise from poverty was one reason that many Argentines continued to identify with him even as he became a world celebrity. “He never stopped being part of the people,” said Gastón Tescusinsky, 44, who has a tattoo of Maradona on his arm. “He was always the kid from Fiorito.” Maradona wore his leftist politics on his sleeve, and Magalhães noted that he would publicly criticize the leaders of FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, “without worrying about repercussions.” “Maradona was a contradictory character who garnered a lot of empathy,” said Rodrigo Daskal, a professor who is a researcher at the Sports Study Center at San Martín National University. “Maradona was always authentic and never tried to dress up any part of his life.” Maradona’s candor about his struggles with alcohol and drugs was appreciated by many of his fans, especially those who had experience with addiction. “My old man had problems with drugs, who am I to judge Maradona?” said Pablo Neyret, 42, whose eyes welled up with tears. Songs were written in Maradona’s honor, and some of his phrases entered Argentines’ everyday lexicon. One was “they cut off my legs,” which he said after being kicked out the 1994 World Cup for doping. Victoria Fassa, 43, called Maradona “a rebel who was passionate above all else and said what he thought without caring about the consequences.” She added, “He was 100% Argentine.”

In Argentina, Maradona’s Death Sets Off a Vivid Display of Public Grief

The day that Diego Maradona said goodbye, as his voice cracked and the place that had always been home heaved and sobbed, his mind drifted to the mistakes that he had made, the price that he had paid.

In his valedictory moment, he did not seek absolution. All he asked, instead, was that the sport that he had loved and that had adored him in return, the one that he had mastered, the one he had illuminated, the one he lifted into an art, was not tarnished by all that he had done.

The last line of his speech that day — the final time he graced La Bombonera, home of Boca Juniors, the club that held him closest to its heart — became an Argentine aphorism: “La pelota no se mancha,” he told the adoring crowd. The ball does not show the dirt.

It is certainly possible that Diego Armando Maradona, who died Wednesday at age 60, was the finest soccer player ever to draw breath, though that is a subject of hot and unyielding debate. Less contentious is the idea that no other player has ever inspired such fierce devotion.

There is something approaching a cult in his name in Naples, the overlooked and demeaned port city that he transformed into the center of the soccer universe for a few, glorious years at the peak of his career. The city’s mayor on Wednesday suggested the stadium that houses his former club, Napoli, should be renamed for him. That privilege currently falls to St. Paul.

In Argentina, Maradona’s homeland — which declared three days of national mourning once his death was announced — there has long been a church in his honor. For many, Maradona was a quasi-religious experience.

He was no straightforward icon. He struggled with drug addiction for decades. He was thrown out of a World Cup in disgrace after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Health troubles plagued him, testament to a life of excess. He did not acknowledge his son, Diego, for years. In his later life, he became estranged from his ex-wife, Claudia Villafañe, and from his two daughters, Giannina and Dalma. There were allegations of domestic abuse toward one former girlfriend. There were guns and associations with organized crime.

Maradona never shied away from acknowledging that he had made mistakes, even as he failed to stop making them. The tendency — understandable, sincere, unavoidable — as soccer reeled from the news of his death, as the eulogies flowed from Lionel Messi (“eternal”) and from Cristiano Ronaldo “a genius”) and from Pelé (“a legend”), was to avoid his flaws and his weaknesses, to strike his demons from memory out of respect, out of affection.

And yet without mention of those troubles, Maradona’s story is not cleansed. It is contorted. Those struggles did not improve him as a player. Instead, they would prevent him from achieving all that he might have done and, eventually, shorten his career.

But if the flaws diminished what Maradona was, they burnished what he represented to those who watched him, those who adored him. That such beauty could emerge from such tumult made him mean something more; it gave him a resonance that stretched beyond even his outsize ability. His darkness sharpened the contours of his light.

Thirty-two years before Maradona was born, the great Argentine writer Borocotó — editor of El Gráfico, the prestigious, trailblazing sports magazine — suggested the country should erect a statue to the so-called&nbsp;pibe: the dusty-faced street kid with the “trickster eyes,” “a mane of hair rebelling against the comb” and the “sparkling gaze” who represented not only Argentina’s soccer culture, but also its self-image as a nation.

Maradona was the platonic ideal of a&nbsp;pibe, all virtuoso skill and impetuous cunning. He captured the spirit Borocotó made immortal more than any player — more than anyone could have thought possible — not just when he was a teenager, fresh from the&nbsp;potrero, but throughout his career.

All of those iconic images of Maradona are monuments to the spirit of the&nbsp;pibe: leaping high above Peter Shilton, the England goalkeeper, the goal that he would joke — with the “Picaresque laugh” that met Borocotó’s description — was scored by the Hand of God; dancing, a couple of minutes later, through the entire England team to score “the goal of the century,” the strike that would prompt the commentator Victor Hugo Morales to declare him a “comet from the sky”; facing up to the entire Belgian team, the ball at his feet, a picture of fear on the opponents’ faces.

No matter how high he flew, Maradona never strayed from his roots; he was a&nbsp;pibe&nbsp;when he first emerged, he was a&nbsp;pibe&nbsp;when he almost single-handedly dragged Argentina to the World Cup in 1986, and back to the final four years later. He was a&nbsp;pibe&nbsp;when Barcelona made him the most expensive player on the planet and when he took Napoli to not one, but two Serie A titles. He was a&nbsp;pibe&nbsp;even as he conquered the world.

That was his glory, and it was also his downfall. How, after all, could a boy who had never grown up expect to cope with the world he found himself in, with the expectation and the demands, with the idolization and the temptation? The light shone so brightly that the darkness in its wake could only grow.

Maradona himself never made excuses for his missteps, though that is not the same as atoning for them. As he told the filmmaker Emir Kusturica in 2008, he held himself responsible for all that he had done, good and bad. But he knew, too, that at some point a line had to be drawn between Maradona the person and Maradona the player.

His legacy as the former is a complex one: a brilliant, troubled individual, one who suffered pain but inflicted it, too, a boy and then a man who crumbled and cracked under the pressure of a situation he did not have the tools to survive.

But his meaning as the latter is more straightforward. Maradona encapsulated an ideal, he infatuated a nation, he turned a mere game into an art form. The&nbsp;pibe&nbsp;is a quintessentially Argentine complex but it is one that generates global understanding: the impish, improvised brilliance of the innocent.

Maradona himself always saw soccer as his salvation, his deliverance. In 2005, in a brief phase as a television personality, he was asked what he might like to offer up as an epitaph. “Thanks to soccer,” he said. “It is the sport that gives me the greatest joy, the greatest freedom. It is like touching the sky with your hands. Thanks to the ball.”

His flaws and his demons will not be forgotten, not even with time. His memory will always be a complex one. But no matter how deep the darkness, it should not be allowed to obscure the light that he brought. “La pelota no se mancha.” The ball does not show the dirt.

The day that Diego Maradona said goodbye, as his voice cracked and the place that had always been home heaved and sobbed, his mind drifted to the mistakes that he had made, the price that he had paid.

The day that Diego Maradona said goodbye, as his voice cracked and the place that had always been home heaved and sobbed, his mind drifted to the mistakes that he had made, the price that he had paid. In his valedictory moment, he did not seek absolution. All he asked, instead, was that the sport that he had loved and that had adored him in return, the one that he had mastered, the one he had illuminated, the one he lifted into an art, was not tarnished by all that he had done. The last line of his speech that day — the final time he graced La Bombonera, home of Boca Juniors, the club that held him closest to its heart — became an Argentine aphorism: “La pelota no se mancha,” he told the adoring crowd. The ball does not show the dirt. It is certainly possible that Diego Armando Maradona, who died Wednesday at age 60, was the finest soccer player ever to draw breath, though that is a subject of hot and unyielding debate. Less contentious is the idea that no other player has ever inspired such fierce devotion. There is something approaching a cult in his name in Naples, the overlooked and demeaned port city that he transformed into the center of the soccer universe for a few, glorious years at the peak of his career. The city’s mayor on Wednesday suggested the stadium that houses his former club, Napoli, should be renamed for him. That privilege currently falls to St. Paul. In Argentina, Maradona’s homeland — which declared three days of national mourning once his death was announced — there has long been a church in his honor. For many, Maradona was a quasi-religious experience. He was no straightforward icon. He struggled with drug addiction for decades. He was thrown out of a World Cup in disgrace after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Health troubles plagued him, testament to a life of excess. He did not acknowledge his son, Diego, for years. In his later life, he became estranged from his ex-wife, Claudia Villafañe, and from his two daughters, Giannina and Dalma. There were allegations of domestic abuse toward one former girlfriend. There were guns and associations with organized crime. Maradona never shied away from acknowledging that he had made mistakes, even as he failed to stop making them. The tendency — understandable, sincere, unavoidable — as soccer reeled from the news of his death, as the eulogies flowed from Lionel Messi (“eternal”) and from Cristiano Ronaldo “a genius”) and from Pelé (“a legend”), was to avoid his flaws and his weaknesses, to strike his demons from memory out of respect, out of affection. And yet without mention of those troubles, Maradona’s story is not cleansed. It is contorted. Those struggles did not improve him as a player. Instead, they would prevent him from achieving all that he might have done and, eventually, shorten his career. But if the flaws diminished what Maradona was, they burnished what he represented to those who watched him, those who adored him. That such beauty could emerge from such tumult made him mean something more; it gave him a resonance that stretched beyond even his outsize ability. His darkness sharpened the contours of his light. Thirty-two years before Maradona was born, the great Argentine writer Borocotó — editor of El Gráfico, the prestigious, trailblazing sports magazine — suggested the country should erect a statue to the so-called pibe: the dusty-faced street kid with the “trickster eyes,” “a mane of hair rebelling against the comb” and the “sparkling gaze” who represented not only Argentina’s soccer culture, but also its self-image as a nation. Maradona was the platonic ideal of a pibe, all virtuoso skill and impetuous cunning. He captured the spirit Borocotó made immortal more than any player — more than anyone could have thought possible — not just when he was a teenager, fresh from the potrero, but throughout his career. All of those iconic images of Maradona are monuments to the spirit of the pibe: leaping high above Peter Shilton, the England goalkeeper, the goal that he would joke — with the “Picaresque laugh” that met Borocotó’s description — was scored by the Hand of God; dancing, a couple of minutes later, through the entire England team to score “the goal of the century,” the strike that would prompt the commentator Victor Hugo Morales to declare him a “comet from the sky”; facing up to the entire Belgian team, the ball at his feet, a picture of fear on the opponents’ faces. No matter how high he flew, Maradona never strayed from his roots; he was a pibe when he first emerged, he was a pibe when he almost single-handedly dragged Argentina to the World Cup in 1986, and back to the final four years later. He was a pibe when Barcelona made him the most expensive player on the planet and when he took Napoli to not one, but two Serie A titles. He was a pibe even as he conquered the world. That was his glory, and it was also his downfall. How, after all, could a boy who had never grown up expect to cope with the world he found himself in, with the expectation and the demands, with the idolization and the temptation? The light shone so brightly that the darkness in its wake could only grow. Maradona himself never made excuses for his missteps, though that is not the same as atoning for them. As he told the filmmaker Emir Kusturica in 2008, he held himself responsible for all that he had done, good and bad. But he knew, too, that at some point a line had to be drawn between Maradona the person and Maradona the player. His legacy as the former is a complex one: a brilliant, troubled individual, one who suffered pain but inflicted it, too, a boy and then a man who crumbled and cracked under the pressure of a situation he did not have the tools to survive. But his meaning as the latter is more straightforward. Maradona encapsulated an ideal, he infatuated a nation, he turned a mere game into an art form. The pibe is a quintessentially Argentine complex but it is one that generates global understanding: the impish, improvised brilliance of the innocent. Maradona himself always saw soccer as his salvation, his deliverance. In 2005, in a brief phase as a television personality, he was asked what he might like to offer up as an epitaph. “Thanks to soccer,” he said. “It is the sport that gives me the greatest joy, the greatest freedom. It is like touching the sky with your hands. Thanks to the ball.” His flaws and his demons will not be forgotten, not even with time. His memory will always be a complex one. But no matter how deep the darkness, it should not be allowed to obscure the light that he brought. “La pelota no se mancha.” The ball does not show the dirt.

Diego Maradona, the Most Human of Immortals

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona will be buried outside Buenos Aires on Thursday (Friday in India), his spokesman has confirmed. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-legend-diego-maradona-60-dies-of-heart-attack-345375">Maradona, aged 60, passed away</a> on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. Maradona’s coffin arrived at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires for a period of lying in state on Wednesday.

Maradona will be laid to rest in the Jardin de Paz cemetery, where his parents were also buried, Sebastian Sanchi told AFP.

On Thursday, hundreds of people began filing in to see the coffin of Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires’ Casa Rosada after he passed away on Wednesday at the age of 60. People passed in front of the coffin that was draped with the Argentine flag and his number 10 jersey.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/diego-maradona-five-of-his-greatest-goals-345386" hreflang="en">Diego Maradona - Five of his greatest goals</a>

Maradona's family and closest friends came at dawn before the start of the public wake. Tens of thousands of people spent the night in a vigil in the Plaza de Mayo, singing songs in tribute to Maradona, who led Argentina to the World Cup in 1986.

<img alt="Maradona" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="40393dc5-d79d-4ab1-a1cf-ec4b77246461" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_8VX2XF.jpg" />

Scores of people, with scarves and Maradona’s shirt, gathered outside Napoli’s stadium and chanted “Diego, Diego, Diego!” &nbsp;Napoli's blue and white have been hung on the fence, transforming it into a makeshift shrine to the city's adopted "king"

“You are eternal in every heart in world football,” the Twitter account of the Argentina national team posted alongside a picture of Maradona holding the World Cup.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ciao-diego-argentina-and-napoli-fans-mourn-maradonas-death-345538" hreflang="en">'Ciao Diego': Argentina and Napoli fans mourn Maradona's death</a>

The World Cup-winning Argentine maestro was recovering from brain surgery and died of a heart attack on Wednesday. Maradona was renowned for his majestic left-foot and impeccable control with the ball.&nbsp;

The former Napoli megastar had emergency surgery for a subdural haematoma, a blood clot on the brain. He was admitted to the hospital longer than expected as he was showing withdrawal symptoms for his dependency on alcohol before passing away on Wednesday after a heart attack, leaving behind rich legacy which only a few can match.

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona will be buried outside Buenos Aires on Thursday (Friday in India), his spokesman has confirmed. Maradona, aged 60, passed away on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona will be buried outside Buenos Aires on Thursday (Friday in India), his spokesman has confirmed. Maradona, aged 60, passed away on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. Maradona’s coffin arrived at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires for a period of lying in state on Wednesday. Maradona will be laid to rest in the Jardin de Paz cemetery, where his parents were also buried, Sebastian Sanchi told AFP. On Thursday, hundreds of people began filing in to see the coffin of Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires’ Casa Rosada after he passed away on Wednesday at the age of 60. People passed in front of the coffin that was draped with the Argentine flag and his number 10 jersey. ALSO READ: Diego Maradona - Five of his greatest goals Maradona's family and closest friends came at dawn before the start of the public wake. Tens of thousands of people spent the night in a vigil in the Plaza de Mayo, singing songs in tribute to Maradona, who led Argentina to the World Cup in 1986. Scores of people, with scarves and Maradona’s shirt, gathered outside Napoli’s stadium and chanted “Diego, Diego, Diego!” Napoli's blue and white have been hung on the fence, transforming it into a makeshift shrine to the city's adopted "king" “You are eternal in every heart in world football,” the Twitter account of the Argentina national team posted alongside a picture of Maradona holding the World Cup. IN PICS | 'Ciao Diego': Argentina and Napoli fans mourn Maradona's death The World Cup-winning Argentine maestro was recovering from brain surgery and died of a heart attack on Wednesday. Maradona was renowned for his majestic left-foot and impeccable control with the ball. The former Napoli megastar had emergency surgery for a subdural haematoma, a blood clot on the brain. He was admitted to the hospital longer than expected as he was showing withdrawal symptoms for his dependency on alcohol before passing away on Wednesday after a heart attack, leaving behind rich legacy which only a few can match.

Diego Maradona to be buried in Jardin de Paz cemetery on Thursday

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/premier-league">Premier League</a> clubs in Liverpool and London have been allowed to welcome some supporters back into their stadiums after the UK government announced different tiers for areas of the country after the second lockdown ends.

Greater Manchester has been classified as ‘very high’ risk area and will remain in Tier 3 – the only tier which doesn’t allow fans to attend matches when the new rules come into effect on December 2.

Premier League clubs such as Manchester City, Manchester United, Leicester City, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Wolves and Aston Villa will be unable to host fans back in the stadium. However, Merseyside has been dropped to Tier 2 which means defending champions Liverpool and Everton can have 2,000 supports back in their stadiums while maintaining strict COVID-19 safety measures.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/guardiola-klopp-welcome-virus-fan-return-plan-345147" hreflang="en">Guardiola, Klopp welcome virus fan-return plan</a>

The new regulations will see fans inside the Anfield for the first time since March when Liverpool took on Wolves in Premier League 2019-20 season on December 5. Meanwhile, London has been put in the Tier-2 areas, in ‘High’ risk category.

As many as 2,000 rugby union fans will be able to attend matches at Autumn Nations Cup at Twickenham, which will witness England play.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Thursday confirmed that a further review of the tier ratings will be held on December 16.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-cup-winner-napoli-legend-drug-addict-rise-and-fall-of-diego-maradona-345411">World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona</a>

Under tier 2 regulations, maximum of 2,000 fans are allowed to attend elite sporting events. Tier 1 rules permit a maximum of 4,000 fans to attend matches but clubs in tier 3 areas must keep their games behind-closed-doors.

Earlier this week, the Everton said: " Everton has welcomed confirmation from the UK Government that fans will be allowed to return to Premier League grounds after 2 December."

A Liverpool statement read, in part: "Liverpool Football Club welcomes the government's announcement regarding the proposed return of fans into sports stadia. We have greatly missed our supporters at Anfield and we look forward to welcoming them back when it is safe to do so."

Premier League clubs in Liverpool and London have been allowed to welcome some supporters back into their stadiums after the UK government announced different tiers for areas of the country after the second lockdown ends.

Premier League clubs in Liverpool and London have been allowed to welcome some supporters back into their stadiums after the UK government announced different tiers for areas of the country after the second lockdown ends. Greater Manchester has been classified as ‘very high’ risk area and will remain in Tier 3 – the only tier which doesn’t allow fans to attend matches when the new rules come into effect on December 2. Premier League clubs such as Manchester City, Manchester United, Leicester City, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Wolves and Aston Villa will be unable to host fans back in the stadium. However, Merseyside has been dropped to Tier 2 which means defending champions Liverpool and Everton can have 2,000 supports back in their stadiums while maintaining strict COVID-19 safety measures. ALSO READ: Guardiola, Klopp welcome virus fan-return plan The new regulations will see fans inside the Anfield for the first time since March when Liverpool took on Wolves in Premier League 2019-20 season on December 5. Meanwhile, London has been put in the Tier-2 areas, in ‘High’ risk category. As many as 2,000 rugby union fans will be able to attend matches at Autumn Nations Cup at Twickenham, which will witness England play. Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Thursday confirmed that a further review of the tier ratings will be held on December 16. IN PICS | World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona Under tier 2 regulations, maximum of 2,000 fans are allowed to attend elite sporting events. Tier 1 rules permit a maximum of 4,000 fans to attend matches but clubs in tier 3 areas must keep their games behind-closed-doors. Earlier this week, the Everton said: " Everton has welcomed confirmation from the UK Government that fans will be allowed to return to Premier League grounds after 2 December." A Liverpool statement read, in part: "Liverpool Football Club welcomes the government's announcement regarding the proposed return of fans into sports stadia. We have greatly missed our supporters at Anfield and we look forward to welcoming them back when it is safe to do so."

UK COVID-19 tiers: Liverpool, London to welcome supporters back in the stadiums

Former Tunisian football referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final in which Diego Maradona scored his famous brace against England, lauded the Argentine as a “genius” after his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-legend-diego-maradona-60-dies-of-heart-attack-345375">demise at the age of 60 on Wednesday</a>.

Bin Nasser conceded that he doubted the validity of Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal but termed his second goal from the game as “masterpiece”.

In the 51st minute of the last-eight encounter in Mexico, Maradona outjumped England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and used his hand to slide the ball into the net to give Argentina a 1-0 lead.&nbsp;

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-cup-winner-napoli-legend-drug-addict-rise-and-fall-of-diego-maradona-345411" hreflang="en">World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona</a>

"I didn't see the hand, but I had a doubt," Bin Nasser, the first Tunisian to referee a World Cup quarter-final, told AFP.

"You can see the pictures -- I stepped back to take the advice of my assistant, Bulgarian (Bogdan) Dochev, and when he said it was good, I gave the goal."

The 76-year-old reckoned he was the go-to-man for FIFA in crunch matches while adding the football governing body rated him highly for his performance in the controversial match.&nbsp;

"I had already refereed a match between the USSR and China in 1985, I was the man of difficult missions for FIFA," Bin Nasser said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/diego-maradonas-body-arrives-at-presidential-palace-for-period-of-lying-in-state-345475" hreflang="en">Diego Maradona's body arrives at presidential palace for period of lying in state</a>

"FIFA gave me a 9.4 on this game, I did what I had to do, but there was confusion -- Dochev later indicated that he had seen two arms, and he didn't know if it was Shilton's or Maradona's."

Argentina went on to defeat England in the semi-finals of the World Cup they would go on to win when Maradona put them two goals ahead with the latter strike voted ‘Goal of the Century’.

The then-Napoli megastar dribbled past six England players before rattling the empty net.&nbsp;

"I was ready to whistle for a dangerous foul on Maradona," remembered Bin Nasser of a goal which proved to be the winner after Gary Lineker pulled one back for England.

"I thought after 50 yards of effort they were going to bring him down.

TRENDING |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rip-maradona-relive-the-iconic-hand-of-god-moment-from-1986-world-cup-watch-video-345382" hreflang="en">RIP Maradona: Relive the iconic 'Hand of God' moment from 1986 World Cup - watch video</a>

"I was proud to participate in that masterpiece."

Maradona, 29 years later, visited Bin Nasser while shooting an advertisement in Tunisia and gave him a T-shirt bearing the words "To my eternal friend Ali".

"We had a good time, I told him that that day, it was not Argentina who won, but him, Maradona.

"He was a genius, a football legend. As a referee, I did not allow myself to close my eyes even for a second when following him, because he was capable of anything." 
&nbsp;

Former Tunisian football referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final in which Diego Maradona scored his famous brace against England, lauded the Argentine as a “genius” after his demise at the age of 60 on Wednesday.

Former Tunisian football referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final in which Diego Maradona scored his famous brace against England, lauded the Argentine as a “genius” after his demise at the age of 60 on Wednesday. Bin Nasser conceded that he doubted the validity of Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal but termed his second goal from the game as “masterpiece”. In the 51st minute of the last-eight encounter in Mexico, Maradona outjumped England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and used his hand to slide the ball into the net to give Argentina a 1-0 lead. IN PICS | World Cup winner, Napoli legend, drug addict: Rise and fall of Diego Maradona "I didn't see the hand, but I had a doubt," Bin Nasser, the first Tunisian to referee a World Cup quarter-final, told AFP. "You can see the pictures -- I stepped back to take the advice of my assistant, Bulgarian (Bogdan) Dochev, and when he said it was good, I gave the goal." The 76-year-old reckoned he was the go-to-man for FIFA in crunch matches while adding the football governing body rated him highly for his performance in the controversial match. "I had already refereed a match between the USSR and China in 1985, I was the man of difficult missions for FIFA," Bin Nasser said. ALSO READ: Diego Maradona's body arrives at presidential palace for period of lying in state "FIFA gave me a 9.4 on this game, I did what I had to do, but there was confusion -- Dochev later indicated that he had seen two arms, and he didn't know if it was Shilton's or Maradona's." Argentina went on to defeat England in the semi-finals of the World Cup they would go on to win when Maradona put them two goals ahead with the latter strike voted ‘Goal of the Century’. The then-Napoli megastar dribbled past six England players before rattling the empty net. "I was ready to whistle for a dangerous foul on Maradona," remembered Bin Nasser of a goal which proved to be the winner after Gary Lineker pulled one back for England. "I thought after 50 yards of effort they were going to bring him down. TRENDING | RIP Maradona: Relive the iconic 'Hand of God' moment from 1986 World Cup - watch video "I was proud to participate in that masterpiece." Maradona, 29 years later, visited Bin Nasser while shooting an advertisement in Tunisia and gave him a T-shirt bearing the words "To my eternal friend Ali". "We had a good time, I told him that that day, it was not Argentina who won, but him, Maradona. "He was a genius, a football legend. As a referee, I did not allow myself to close my eyes even for a second when following him, because he was capable of anything."

'Genius': Referee who missed 'Hand of God' lavishes praise on Diego Maradona

Robert Lewandowski set Bayern Munich on the way to a 3-1 Champions League win over Salzburg on Wednesday as the holders joined Manchester City in qualifying for the last 16 with two group games to spare, while Liverpool went down to defeat and Marseille are now the owners of an unwanted record.

On a night when clubs marked news of the death of Diego Maradona by holding a minute's silence in memory of the Argentine before all Champions League games, Bayern eased to a record-extending 15th straight win in the competition.

Lewandowski scored the opener&nbsp;just before half-time at an empty Allianz Arena, his 14th goal of the season and also his 71st altogether in the Champions League, leaving him level with Real Madrid great Raul in third place on the all-time list behind Cristiano Ronaldo (131) and Lionel Messi (118).

Kingsley Coman scored Bayern's second and then crossed for Leroy Sane to head in their third, before Mergim Berisha pulled a goal back for the Austrian champions.

Marc Roca was sent off for Bayern, but they have a maximum 12 points and are guaranteed to advance as Group A winners, while Atletico Madrid sit second but continue to toil in Europe this season after being held 0-0 at home by Lokomotiv Moscow.

Pep Guardiola's City earlier secured progress as Phil Foden swept in from a Raheem Sterling back-heel to secure a 1-0 win away to Olympiakos in Greece, their fourth win out of four in Group C.

City had 21 attempts on goal and their bluntness in attack is a source of concern, even if their European progress provides a tonic to their mediocre Premier League form.

"It will come, we would love to do more, but one day it will come and will break everything," said Guardiola, whose side now just need a point from their final two matches to top the group.

<h2>- Unlucky 13 for Marseille -</h2>

Second-place Porto are on the brink of joining them in qualifying after a 2-0 win at Marseille, which was the French side's 13th consecutive defeat in the competition stretching over three campaigns going back to 2011-12.

The Nigerian Zaidu Sanusi gave Porto the lead six minutes before half-time and Sergio Oliveira scored a second-half penalty after on-loan Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic had been sent off for the Portuguese side.

Marseille, who had defender Leonardo Balerdi sent off, cannot now qualify for the last 16.

"We have hit rock-bottom," said Marseille coach Andre Villas-Boas.

Six-time European champions Liverpool are not yet sure of progressing to the next round after going down 2-0 to Atalanta at Anfield.

Three weeks after beating the same side 5-0 in Italy, Liverpool struggled with a weakened starting line-up, and Josip Ilicic put Atalanta in front on the hour mark before German international Robin Gosens got the second goal.

"A deserved defeat in a difficult game," was how Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp summed up the game.

Liverpool are top of Group D on nine points, two points clear of Atalanta and Ajax, who were 3-1 winners at home to Midtjylland.

Second-half goals by Ryan Gravenberch, Noussair Mazraoui and David Neres boosted Ajax's hopes, with Awer Mabil getting a consolation from the penalty spot for the Danes who had captain Erik Sviatchenko sent off late on and are yet to register a point. Ajax go to Liverpool next week.

<h2>- Hazard on target for Real -</h2>

Meanwhile, Inter Milan are on the brink of being eliminated in the group stage after Arturo Vidal was sent off as they went down 2-0 at home to Real Madrid.

Eden Hazard gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot at San Siro for his first Champions League goal in a Real shirt, and Vidal was sent off before the break after seeing two yellow cards for dissent in quick succession.

A Rodrygo shot went in off Achraf Hakimi in the second half to make it 2-0, and Real are now on course to qualify from Group B after losing 3-2 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in their first game.

Shakhtar lost 4-0 to Borussia Moenchengladbach, with Lars Stindl scoring a penalty and Nico Elvedi, Breel Embolo and Oscar Wendt also on target to keep the Germans on top of the group.

Barcelona, Juventus, Chelsea and Sevilla punched their tickets to the knockout phase on Tuesday.

Robert Lewandowski set Bayern Munich on the way to a 3-1 Champions League win over Salzburg on Wednesday as the holders joined Manchester City in qualifying for the last 16 with two group games to spare, while Liverpool went down to defeat and Marseille are now the owners of an unwanted record.

Robert Lewandowski set Bayern Munich on the way to a 3-1 Champions League win over Salzburg on Wednesday as the holders joined Manchester City in qualifying for the last 16 with two group games to spare, while Liverpool went down to defeat and Marseille are now the owners of an unwanted record. On a night when clubs marked news of the death of Diego Maradona by holding a minute's silence in memory of the Argentine before all Champions League games, Bayern eased to a record-extending 15th straight win in the competition. Lewandowski scored the opener just before half-time at an empty Allianz Arena, his 14th goal of the season and also his 71st altogether in the Champions League, leaving him level with Real Madrid great Raul in third place on the all-time list behind Cristiano Ronaldo (131) and Lionel Messi (118). Kingsley Coman scored Bayern's second and then crossed for Leroy Sane to head in their third, before Mergim Berisha pulled a goal back for the Austrian champions. Marc Roca was sent off for Bayern, but they have a maximum 12 points and are guaranteed to advance as Group A winners, while Atletico Madrid sit second but continue to toil in Europe this season after being held 0-0 at home by Lokomotiv Moscow. Pep Guardiola's City earlier secured progress as Phil Foden swept in from a Raheem Sterling back-heel to secure a 1-0 win away to Olympiakos in Greece, their fourth win out of four in Group C. City had 21 attempts on goal and their bluntness in attack is a source of concern, even if their European progress provides a tonic to their mediocre Premier League form. "It will come, we would love to do more, but one day it will come and will break everything," said Guardiola, whose side now just need a point from their final two matches to top the group. - Unlucky 13 for Marseille - Second-place Porto are on the brink of joining them in qualifying after a 2-0 win at Marseille, which was the French side's 13th consecutive defeat in the competition stretching over three campaigns going back to 2011-12. The Nigerian Zaidu Sanusi gave Porto the lead six minutes before half-time and Sergio Oliveira scored a second-half penalty after on-loan Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic had been sent off for the Portuguese side. Marseille, who had defender Leonardo Balerdi sent off, cannot now qualify for the last 16. "We have hit rock-bottom," said Marseille coach Andre Villas-Boas. Six-time European champions Liverpool are not yet sure of progressing to the next round after going down 2-0 to Atalanta at Anfield. Three weeks after beating the same side 5-0 in Italy, Liverpool struggled with a weakened starting line-up, and Josip Ilicic put Atalanta in front on the hour mark before German international Robin Gosens got the second goal. "A deserved defeat in a difficult game," was how Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp summed up the game. Liverpool are top of Group D on nine points, two points clear of Atalanta and Ajax, who were 3-1 winners at home to Midtjylland. Second-half goals by Ryan Gravenberch, Noussair Mazraoui and David Neres boosted Ajax's hopes, with Awer Mabil getting a consolation from the penalty spot for the Danes who had captain Erik Sviatchenko sent off late on and are yet to register a point. Ajax go to Liverpool next week. - Hazard on target for Real - Meanwhile, Inter Milan are on the brink of being eliminated in the group stage after Arturo Vidal was sent off as they went down 2-0 at home to Real Madrid. Eden Hazard gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot at San Siro for his first Champions League goal in a Real shirt, and Vidal was sent off before the break after seeing two yellow cards for dissent in quick succession. A Rodrygo shot went in off Achraf Hakimi in the second half to make it 2-0, and Real are now on course to qualify from Group B after losing 3-2 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in their first game. Shakhtar lost 4-0 to Borussia Moenchengladbach, with Lars Stindl scoring a penalty and Nico Elvedi, Breel Embolo and Oscar Wendt also on target to keep the Germans on top of the group. Barcelona, Juventus, Chelsea and Sevilla punched their tickets to the knockout phase on Tuesday.

Holders Bayern, Man City through to Champions League last 16 as Liverpool beaten

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona said his hero, late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro - whom he considered a “second father” and whose face he had tattooed on his leg - once urged him to go into politics.

Maradona, who died on Wednesday aged 60, never fulfilled those aspirations but he did play a role in championing leftist leaders across Latin America - such as Castro, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Bolivia’s Evo Morales - and in helping to lend them broader international appeal.

“Everything Fidel does, everything Chavez does for me is the best (that can be done),” Maradona said on Chavez’s weekly television show in 2007.

“I hate everything that comes from the United States. I hate it with all my strength.”

The son of a factory worker raised in a shantytown on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Maradona first met Castro in 1987, a year after helping Argentina win the World Cup and four years before the fall of the Soviet Union that would usher in a new era of economic hardship in communist Cuba.

An unlikely friendship between the often outlandish footballer and the well-read revolutionary deepened at the start of the century when Maradona spent four years in Havana to shake an addiction to drugs.

“Coming from such humble beginnings, Castro was his idol,” said Alfredo Tedeschi, an Argentine TV producer now based in Belgium who became close friends with Maradona during a stint working for Reuters in Havana.

“It was like he fell in love (with Castro), and then came Chavez, Morales and the rest,” said Tedeschi, who would often invite the footballer over for traditional Argentine steak barbecue dinners.

Tedeschi recalls the time Maradona knocked on his door and proposed a spontaneous visit to Castro. The Cuban leader received them within minutes of their arrival and cleared his busy agenda to spend three hours with them, including to play football in his office.

“They would always talk about politics - Diego was really interested in politics,” said Tedeschi, adding that Castro would also pay spontaneous visits to his Havana home.

In 2005, Maradona interviewed Castro on his Argentine TV show, asking how George W. Bush had been re-elected president of the United States, to which Castro responded: “Fraud. The terrorist mafia of Miami!”

As such, Maradona was also a propaganda tool for Latin America’s leftist leaders, said Tedeschi.

“Diego was the kind of guy where anything he said would have a repercussion,” said Tedeschi. “And for Fidel, that kind of propaganda was welcome.”

In a twist of fate, Maradona died on the same date, Nov. 25, as his idol did four years ago - upon which occasion he said he “wept uncontrollably.”

“These two dates are intertwined on Nov. 25, and will be throughout history: two greats, one of football and the other of the Cuban revolution,” said pensioner Luis Perez, 64, in Havana.

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Twitter that Maradona’s “friendship with Cuba and especially with Fidel made him part of this people.”

Morales and Chavez’ successor, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, also poured out condolences on Twitter. Maradona had voiced support for Maduro in the face of U.S. sanctions on his government.

“With grief in my heart, I learned of the death of my brother, Diego Armando Maradona, a person who felt and fought for the poor, the best football player in the world,” wrote Morales, an avid soccer fan.

The former Bolivian president recruited Maradona to play against him in a charity match in La Paz in 2008 to show his backing for Bolivia’s campaign against a FIFA ban on matches at high altitude. The ban was later overturned.

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona said his hero, late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro - whom he considered a “second father” and whose face he had tattooed on his leg - once urged him to go into politics.

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona said his hero, late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro - whom he considered a “second father” and whose face he had tattooed on his leg - once urged him to go into politics. Maradona, who died on Wednesday aged 60, never fulfilled those aspirations but he did play a role in championing leftist leaders across Latin America - such as Castro, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Bolivia’s Evo Morales - and in helping to lend them broader international appeal. “Everything Fidel does, everything Chavez does for me is the best (that can be done),” Maradona said on Chavez’s weekly television show in 2007. “I hate everything that comes from the United States. I hate it with all my strength.” The son of a factory worker raised in a shantytown on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Maradona first met Castro in 1987, a year after helping Argentina win the World Cup and four years before the fall of the Soviet Union that would usher in a new era of economic hardship in communist Cuba. An unlikely friendship between the often outlandish footballer and the well-read revolutionary deepened at the start of the century when Maradona spent four years in Havana to shake an addiction to drugs. “Coming from such humble beginnings, Castro was his idol,” said Alfredo Tedeschi, an Argentine TV producer now based in Belgium who became close friends with Maradona during a stint working for Reuters in Havana. “It was like he fell in love (with Castro), and then came Chavez, Morales and the rest,” said Tedeschi, who would often invite the footballer over for traditional Argentine steak barbecue dinners. Tedeschi recalls the time Maradona knocked on his door and proposed a spontaneous visit to Castro. The Cuban leader received them within minutes of their arrival and cleared his busy agenda to spend three hours with them, including to play football in his office. “They would always talk about politics - Diego was really interested in politics,” said Tedeschi, adding that Castro would also pay spontaneous visits to his Havana home. In 2005, Maradona interviewed Castro on his Argentine TV show, asking how George W. Bush had been re-elected president of the United States, to which Castro responded: “Fraud. The terrorist mafia of Miami!” As such, Maradona was also a propaganda tool for Latin America’s leftist leaders, said Tedeschi. “Diego was the kind of guy where anything he said would have a repercussion,” said Tedeschi. “And for Fidel, that kind of propaganda was welcome.” In a twist of fate, Maradona died on the same date, Nov. 25, as his idol did four years ago - upon which occasion he said he “wept uncontrollably.” “These two dates are intertwined on Nov. 25, and will be throughout history: two greats, one of football and the other of the Cuban revolution,” said pensioner Luis Perez, 64, in Havana. Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Twitter that Maradona’s “friendship with Cuba and especially with Fidel made him part of this people.” Morales and Chavez’ successor, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, also poured out condolences on Twitter. Maradona had voiced support for Maduro in the face of U.S. sanctions on his government. “With grief in my heart, I learned of the death of my brother, Diego Armando Maradona, a person who felt and fought for the poor, the best football player in the world,” wrote Morales, an avid soccer fan. The former Bolivian president recruited Maradona to play against him in a charity match in La Paz in 2008 to show his backing for Bolivia’s campaign against a FIFA ban on matches at high altitude. The ban was later overturned.

Maradona, football legend, was a champion of Latin America's left

Erling Braut Haaland broke yet another Champions League record on Tuesday as he fired Borussia Dortmund a step closer to the knockout stages with two goals in a 3-0 win over Club Brugge.

Haaland's 18th-minute opener against Brugge saw him reach 15 Champions League goals in fewer games than any other player in the competition's history.

The 20-year-old Norwegian hit the milestone in just 12 appearances, smashing the previous record of 19 games held by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Roberto Soldado.

"Erling is a fantastic player. He works hard on and off the pitch and he deserves everything that's coming his way," said team-mate Jadon Sancho, who provided the assist for Haaland's opener.

"I'm just happy that I can get my assists more easily because he's so clinical," Sancho told broadcaster DAZN.

Haaland added another in the second half to take his tally to 16, as he and Dortmund annihilated Brugge to defend top spot in Group F and move within touching distance of qualification for the second round.

With two games to go, Lucien Favre's side are now five points clear of third place and a point ahead of second-placed Lazio, who beat Zenit Saint Petersburg 3-1 on Tuesday.

Dortmund were predictably dominant in the first half, and it took Haaland just 70 seconds to send a shot fizzing past the Brugge post.

The Norwegian found the net on 18 minutes, placing a low shot past Simon Mignolet after Sancho set him up with an elegant through ball.

Sancho, who has faced criticism this season and was dropped to the bench for Dortmund's league win at Hertha Berlin last weekend, was in excellent form upon his return to the starting XI.&nbsp;

The 20-year-old Englishman doubled Dortmund's lead on the stroke of half-time, curling a free-kick into the top corner after compatriot Jude Bellingham was fouled on the edge of the box.

"I've been practising my free-kicks recently, so I'm happy it came off today," said Sancho.

"I'm just happy I'm playing and that I have coaches who believe in me. It's been a hard situation for me recently, but it's all about how I come back," he added.&nbsp;

Haaland put the game beyond reach on the hour mark, gratefully pouncing on an inadvertent assist from Brugge midfielder Ruud Vormer and sweeping the ball in from close range.

Erling Braut Haaland broke yet another Champions League record on Tuesday as he fired Borussia Dortmund a step closer to the knockout stages with two goals in a 3-0 win over Club Brugge.

Erling Braut Haaland broke yet another Champions League record on Tuesday as he fired Borussia Dortmund a step closer to the knockout stages with two goals in a 3-0 win over Club Brugge. Haaland's 18th-minute opener against Brugge saw him reach 15 Champions League goals in fewer games than any other player in the competition's history. The 20-year-old Norwegian hit the milestone in just 12 appearances, smashing the previous record of 19 games held by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Roberto Soldado. "Erling is a fantastic player. He works hard on and off the pitch and he deserves everything that's coming his way," said team-mate Jadon Sancho, who provided the assist for Haaland's opener. "I'm just happy that I can get my assists more easily because he's so clinical," Sancho told broadcaster DAZN. Haaland added another in the second half to take his tally to 16, as he and Dortmund annihilated Brugge to defend top spot in Group F and move within touching distance of qualification for the second round. With two games to go, Lucien Favre's side are now five points clear of third place and a point ahead of second-placed Lazio, who beat Zenit Saint Petersburg 3-1 on Tuesday. Dortmund were predictably dominant in the first half, and it took Haaland just 70 seconds to send a shot fizzing past the Brugge post. The Norwegian found the net on 18 minutes, placing a low shot past Simon Mignolet after Sancho set him up with an elegant through ball. Sancho, who has faced criticism this season and was dropped to the bench for Dortmund's league win at Hertha Berlin last weekend, was in excellent form upon his return to the starting XI. The 20-year-old Englishman doubled Dortmund's lead on the stroke of half-time, curling a free-kick into the top corner after compatriot Jude Bellingham was fouled on the edge of the box. "I've been practising my free-kicks recently, so I'm happy it came off today," said Sancho. "I'm just happy I'm playing and that I have coaches who believe in me. It's been a hard situation for me recently, but it's all about how I come back," he added. Haaland put the game beyond reach on the hour mark, gratefully pouncing on an inadvertent assist from Brugge midfielder Ruud Vormer and sweeping the ball in from close range.

Haaland continues record exploits as Dortmund beat Brugge

Juventus, Chelsea and Sevilla all claimed last-gasp wins as they qualified for the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, while Martin Braithwaite grabbed a double in Barcelona's 4-0 victory at Dynamo Kiev as they also secured a place in the knockout rounds.

They are the first teams to make it out of the group stage, doing so with two games to spare, on a night which saw Erling Braut Haaland, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes all get among the goals.

There was no Lionel Messi for Barcelona, with the Argentine rested for the trip to Ukraine, but Ronald Koeman's side got the job done to make it four wins from four in Group G.

All the goals came in the second half, with Sergino Dest opening the scoring before Danish striker Braithwaite added another and then converted a penalty to make it 3-0.

On as a substitute, Antoine Griezmann wrapped up the win on the night young centre-back Oscar Mingueza, Brazilian midfielder Matheus Fernandes and teenage American winger Konrad de la Fuente were all blooded in the first team.

"We've achieved our objective," said Koeman. "We looked hungry and scored four goals. Important players were able to rest and the youngsters deserved their minutes."&nbsp;

<h2>- Morata, Giroud strike late -</h2>

Juventus joined Barcelona in qualifying from Group G but the Italian champions needed a stoppage-time header by substitute Alvaro Morata to beat Ferencvaros 2-1 in Turin and seal their progress.

Albanian international Myrto Uzuni put the Hungarians ahead but Ronaldo drilled in the equaliser before half-time, meaning he has scored in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons.

Chelsea are through from Group E after edging Rennes 2-1 in France, with Olivier Giroud coming off the bench to head in an injury-time winner. Serhou Guirassy had cancelled out Callum Hudson-Odoi's breakaway opener.

Last season's Europa League winners Sevilla will not get to defend their trophy as they advanced to the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition and did so with a 2-1 win over Krasnodar in Russia, in a rare game played before a sizeable crowd.

Ivan Rakitic's drilled strike put the Spaniards in front only for the Brazilian Wanderson to equalise, but Munir El Haddadi won it for Sevilla five minutes into added time.

Sevilla and Chelsea are level on 10 points but Frank Lampard's side go to Spain next week, when the winner will secure top spot.

Manchester United are in pole position in Group H after a first-half Fernandes brace set them on their way to a 4-1 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir that made up for a 2-1 defeat in Turkey last time out.

The opener by Fernandes was a thunderous strike from outside the box, while the second was a tap-in after a horrible error by Mert Gunok in the away goal.

Marcus Rashford added a penalty, but there was a fightback from the away side, with Deniz Turuc's free-kick crossing the line before David de Gea could claw it away.

Edin Visca crashed a shot off the bar, but Daniel James made sure of the victory on the counter-attack.

"It's a Champions League night at Old Trafford, you'd expect them to enjoy themselves," United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said of his team. "We scored some very nice goals, I'm pleased."

<h2>- Haaland's frightening record -</h2>

Solskjaer's side are three points clear of both Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, after an early Neymar penalty gave the French side a 1-0 win over their German visitors.

PSG go to Old Trafford next week.

Borussia Dortmund need just one more point to qualify from Group F following a 3-0 win over Club Brugge as the prolific Haaland netted twice either side of a Jadon Sancho free-kick in Germany.

Haaland has 16 goals for the season, and has now scored 16 Champions League goals in just 12 appearances -- Messi had two goals and Ronaldo none after the same number of appearances.

"Erling is a fantastic player. He works hard on and off the pitch and he deserves everything that's coming his way," said Sancho.

In the group's other game Ciro Immobile was on target twice, including from a penalty, as Lazio beat Zenit Saint-Petersburg 3-1 in Rome, a result which eliminated the Russians. Marco Parolo also netted for Lazio, with Artem Dzyuba scoring for Zenit.

Juventus, Chelsea and Sevilla all claimed last-gasp wins as they qualified for the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, while Martin Braithwaite grabbed a double in Barcelona's 4-0 victory at Dynamo Kiev as they also secured a place in the knockout rounds.

Juventus, Chelsea and Sevilla all claimed last-gasp wins as they qualified for the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, while Martin Braithwaite grabbed a double in Barcelona's 4-0 victory at Dynamo Kiev as they also secured a place in the knockout rounds. They are the first teams to make it out of the group stage, doing so with two games to spare, on a night which saw Erling Braut Haaland, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes all get among the goals. There was no Lionel Messi for Barcelona, with the Argentine rested for the trip to Ukraine, but Ronald Koeman's side got the job done to make it four wins from four in Group G. All the goals came in the second half, with Sergino Dest opening the scoring before Danish striker Braithwaite added another and then converted a penalty to make it 3-0. On as a substitute, Antoine Griezmann wrapped up the win on the night young centre-back Oscar Mingueza, Brazilian midfielder Matheus Fernandes and teenage American winger Konrad de la Fuente were all blooded in the first team. "We've achieved our objective," said Koeman. "We looked hungry and scored four goals. Important players were able to rest and the youngsters deserved their minutes." - Morata, Giroud strike late - Juventus joined Barcelona in qualifying from Group G but the Italian champions needed a stoppage-time header by substitute Alvaro Morata to beat Ferencvaros 2-1 in Turin and seal their progress. Albanian international Myrto Uzuni put the Hungarians ahead but Ronaldo drilled in the equaliser before half-time, meaning he has scored in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons. Chelsea are through from Group E after edging Rennes 2-1 in France, with Olivier Giroud coming off the bench to head in an injury-time winner. Serhou Guirassy had cancelled out Callum Hudson-Odoi's breakaway opener. Last season's Europa League winners Sevilla will not get to defend their trophy as they advanced to the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition and did so with a 2-1 win over Krasnodar in Russia, in a rare game played before a sizeable crowd. Ivan Rakitic's drilled strike put the Spaniards in front only for the Brazilian Wanderson to equalise, but Munir El Haddadi won it for Sevilla five minutes into added time. Sevilla and Chelsea are level on 10 points but Frank Lampard's side go to Spain next week, when the winner will secure top spot. Manchester United are in pole position in Group H after a first-half Fernandes brace set them on their way to a 4-1 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir that made up for a 2-1 defeat in Turkey last time out. The opener by Fernandes was a thunderous strike from outside the box, while the second was a tap-in after a horrible error by Mert Gunok in the away goal. Marcus Rashford added a penalty, but there was a fightback from the away side, with Deniz Turuc's free-kick crossing the line before David de Gea could claw it away. Edin Visca crashed a shot off the bar, but Daniel James made sure of the victory on the counter-attack. "It's a Champions League night at Old Trafford, you'd expect them to enjoy themselves," United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said of his team. "We scored some very nice goals, I'm pleased." - Haaland's frightening record - Solskjaer's side are three points clear of both Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, after an early Neymar penalty gave the French side a 1-0 win over their German visitors. PSG go to Old Trafford next week. Borussia Dortmund need just one more point to qualify from Group F following a 3-0 win over Club Brugge as the prolific Haaland netted twice either side of a Jadon Sancho free-kick in Germany. Haaland has 16 goals for the season, and has now scored 16 Champions League goals in just 12 appearances -- Messi had two goals and Ronaldo none after the same number of appearances. "Erling is a fantastic player. He works hard on and off the pitch and he deserves everything that's coming his way," said Sancho. In the group's other game Ciro Immobile was on target twice, including from a penalty, as Lazio beat Zenit Saint-Petersburg 3-1 in Rome, a result which eliminated the Russians. Marco Parolo also netted for Lazio, with Artem Dzyuba scoring for Zenit.

Barcelona, Juventus join Chelsea and Sevilla in Champions League last 16

Former Reuters Cuba correspondent Andrew Cawthorne recalls taking the field with Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday, in this Reuters story from 2004.

As I stepped up to take the penalty in Cuba’s national soccer stadium, a bloated but grinning Diego Maradona wiped and placed the ball, whispered words of advice and clasped his hands in prayer.

Inevitably, I scuffed the ball into the goalkeeper’s arms. “You struck it well, you’ll do better,” Maradona lied.

The foreign press lost 6-0 to a Maradona friends’ XI on that rainy evening in Havana in June, 2000 - a defeat that fulfilled a boyhood fantasy of playing alongside one of the world’s greatest footballers.

Maradona was in Cuba to receive free medical treatment for his drug and alcohol problems. His manager Guillermo Coppola had quietly asked us to avoid tackling the then grossly overweight Argentine so as not to humiliate him.

But the humiliation was all ours as Maradona, despite his awful state, used his innate vision and skill to score two long-range goals past our chain-smoking goalkeeper.

That was one of several games I played with Maradona. He had arrived in Cuba earlier in the year after nearly dying in Uruguay and used the kick-arounds to build up fitness.

The Cuban Football Federation laid on their national Pedro Marrero stadium — complete with post-match masseurs — that night in the great man’s honour. At other times, we just played on pitches in a field and behind a hotel.

Every time he scored, Maradona’s goal celebrations were the same I remembered from his glory days, beating England en route to winning the World Cup in Mexico in 1986 or helping transform Napoli’s fortunes in Italy.

Fists clenched, arms raised, head tilted back, eyes to the heavens, Maradona would whoop in delight before falling to the ground or running wildly across the pitch to celebrate.

“What a wonderful feeling to score a goal. I love this game. This is my life,” he roared in ecstasy during one five-a-side.

I had Reuters colleague Alfredo Tedeschi to thank for my friendship with Maradona in Cuba.

‘DO THEY HATE ME IN ENGLAND?’

A TV cameraman and fellow Argentine, Tedeschi infuriated Maradona so much with his paparazzi-style tactics that the footballer punched through his car window in anger within a few days of coming to Cuba to get out of the limelight.

Tedeschi was also a larger-than-life character and the pair made up within days with a bearhug and a barbecued steak.

After that Maradona began visiting his house nearly every day, enjoying Tedeschi’s fine wines and thick steaks to the surprise of those of us who thought he was on a strict diet.

Watching his beloved Boca Juniors or the Argentine national team live via a special satellite link Tedeschi had organised just for him, Maradona would scream like a madman at the referee and celebrate goals by diving fully clothed into Tedeschi’s swimming pool.

One night, over cigars and wine after dinner, I posed him the question I had been longing to ask: “So how did it feel to score those two goals against England in 1986?”

I feared he would be bored to answer it yet again but to my delight, Maradona — aware of the uncritical adulation from myself and Tedeschi’s two boys sitting with us — launched into an hour-long reminiscence.

He laughed at the famous “Hand of God” goal, before asking with real concern “Do they hate me in England?”.

Then he talked us through every swerve and swivel of his famous waltz through England’s team for arguably the best goal in the history of the World Cup.

Maradona’s pipe-dream was to manage a big club. “Manchester United or Real Madrid would do”, he said half-seriously, his ego and desperation to stay in the game blinding him to how badly his reputation had been shattered by his drug problem.

During one game on Tedeschi’s television, Maradona rushed up to the set at halftime when a publicity spot showed him as a teenager. “That’s me, look at me!” he shouted like a kid.

His delight was unbounded when, following a discreet mobile telephone call from Coppola to a Buenos Aires TV contact, the camera swung round to show his daughter standing in the crowd.

In Havana, Maradona met his own hero, Cuban President Fidel Castro, several times. Once, behind closed doors at Havana’s Revolution Palace, he taught the septuagenarian, baseball-loving revolutionary how to dribble a soccer ball.

Maradona showed off to Cuba’s “Maximum Leader” a tattoo of Castro that the Argentine had on his left shin, and another longer-standing tattoo of Argentine revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara on his right shoulder.

“I’m not communist, but I’m ‘Fidelista’ to my death,” Maradona told us later.

Former Reuters Cuba correspondent Andrew Cawthorne recalls taking the field with Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday, in this Reuters story from 2004. As I stepped up to take the penalty in Cuba’s national soccer stadium, a bloated but grinning Diego Maradona wiped and placed the ball, whispered words of advice and clasped his hands in prayer.

Former Reuters Cuba correspondent Andrew Cawthorne recalls taking the field with Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday, in this Reuters story from 2004. As I stepped up to take the penalty in Cuba’s national soccer stadium, a bloated but grinning Diego Maradona wiped and placed the ball, whispered words of advice and clasped his hands in prayer. Inevitably, I scuffed the ball into the goalkeeper’s arms. “You struck it well, you’ll do better,” Maradona lied. The foreign press lost 6-0 to a Maradona friends’ XI on that rainy evening in Havana in June, 2000 - a defeat that fulfilled a boyhood fantasy of playing alongside one of the world’s greatest footballers. Maradona was in Cuba to receive free medical treatment for his drug and alcohol problems. His manager Guillermo Coppola had quietly asked us to avoid tackling the then grossly overweight Argentine so as not to humiliate him. But the humiliation was all ours as Maradona, despite his awful state, used his innate vision and skill to score two long-range goals past our chain-smoking goalkeeper. That was one of several games I played with Maradona. He had arrived in Cuba earlier in the year after nearly dying in Uruguay and used the kick-arounds to build up fitness. The Cuban Football Federation laid on their national Pedro Marrero stadium — complete with post-match masseurs — that night in the great man’s honour. At other times, we just played on pitches in a field and behind a hotel. Every time he scored, Maradona’s goal celebrations were the same I remembered from his glory days, beating England en route to winning the World Cup in Mexico in 1986 or helping transform Napoli’s fortunes in Italy. Fists clenched, arms raised, head tilted back, eyes to the heavens, Maradona would whoop in delight before falling to the ground or running wildly across the pitch to celebrate. “What a wonderful feeling to score a goal. I love this game. This is my life,” he roared in ecstasy during one five-a-side. I had Reuters colleague Alfredo Tedeschi to thank for my friendship with Maradona in Cuba. ‘DO THEY HATE ME IN ENGLAND?’ A TV cameraman and fellow Argentine, Tedeschi infuriated Maradona so much with his paparazzi-style tactics that the footballer punched through his car window in anger within a few days of coming to Cuba to get out of the limelight. Tedeschi was also a larger-than-life character and the pair made up within days with a bearhug and a barbecued steak. After that Maradona began visiting his house nearly every day, enjoying Tedeschi’s fine wines and thick steaks to the surprise of those of us who thought he was on a strict diet. Watching his beloved Boca Juniors or the Argentine national team live via a special satellite link Tedeschi had organised just for him, Maradona would scream like a madman at the referee and celebrate goals by diving fully clothed into Tedeschi’s swimming pool. One night, over cigars and wine after dinner, I posed him the question I had been longing to ask: “So how did it feel to score those two goals against England in 1986?” I feared he would be bored to answer it yet again but to my delight, Maradona — aware of the uncritical adulation from myself and Tedeschi’s two boys sitting with us — launched into an hour-long reminiscence. He laughed at the famous “Hand of God” goal, before asking with real concern “Do they hate me in England?”. Then he talked us through every swerve and swivel of his famous waltz through England’s team for arguably the best goal in the history of the World Cup. Maradona’s pipe-dream was to manage a big club. “Manchester United or Real Madrid would do”, he said half-seriously, his ego and desperation to stay in the game blinding him to how badly his reputation had been shattered by his drug problem. During one game on Tedeschi’s television, Maradona rushed up to the set at halftime when a publicity spot showed him as a teenager. “That’s me, look at me!” he shouted like a kid. His delight was unbounded when, following a discreet mobile telephone call from Coppola to a Buenos Aires TV contact, the camera swung round to show his daughter standing in the crowd. In Havana, Maradona met his own hero, Cuban President Fidel Castro, several times. Once, behind closed doors at Havana’s Revolution Palace, he taught the septuagenarian, baseball-loving revolutionary how to dribble a soccer ball. Maradona showed off to Cuba’s “Maximum Leader” a tattoo of Castro that the Argentine had on his left shin, and another longer-standing tattoo of Argentine revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara on his right shoulder. “I’m not communist, but I’m ‘Fidelista’ to my death,” Maradona told us later.

My kick-arounds with Maradona in Cuba

Napoli on Wednesday bid farewell to Diego Maradona, who won the hearts of the southern Italian city of Naples by leading them to their only two league titles in 1987 and 1990.

"For always. Ciao Diego," the club wrote with a blue heart emoji shortly after the news broke that the Argentine had died of a heart attack aged 60.

As a sign of mourning, Napoli changed the blue background colour of its club logo on their social media accounts to black.

Maradona spent seven years at the then-unfashionable Napoli between 1984 and 1991, during which he also lifted the 1989 UEFA Cup, Napoli's only European trophy.

Italian sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora, a native of Naples, also paid tribute to Maradona.

"The death of Maradona is terrible news. He was more than a champion, he was a football genius, an absolute champion," Spadafora said.&nbsp;

"In an unrepeatable season he represented the dreams and hopes of the people of my city. Naples is crying tonight."

Napoli on Wednesday bid farewell to Diego Maradona, who won the hearts of the southern Italian city of Naples by leading them to their only two league titles in 1987 and 1990.

Napoli on Wednesday bid farewell to Diego Maradona, who won the hearts of the southern Italian city of Naples by leading them to their only two league titles in 1987 and 1990. "For always. Ciao Diego," the club wrote with a blue heart emoji shortly after the news broke that the Argentine had died of a heart attack aged 60. As a sign of mourning, Napoli changed the blue background colour of its club logo on their social media accounts to black. Maradona spent seven years at the then-unfashionable Napoli between 1984 and 1991, during which he also lifted the 1989 UEFA Cup, Napoli's only European trophy. Italian sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora, a native of Naples, also paid tribute to Maradona. "The death of Maradona is terrible news. He was more than a champion, he was a football genius, an absolute champion," Spadafora said. "In an unrepeatable season he represented the dreams and hopes of the people of my city. Naples is crying tonight."

'Ciao Diego:' Napoli bid farewell to club legend Maradona

Argentine football legend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-legend-diego-maradona-60-dies-of-heart-attack-345375">Diego Maradona on Wednesday passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest</a> in his house in Argentina. Maradona lived his life to the fullest after achieving trophies and accolades in both club and international football. Maradona’s most iconic moment was arguably his infamous ‘Hand of God’ moment during Argentina versus England match in the 1986 FIFA World Cup at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

According to rules, Maradona should have received a yellow card for clear handball but due to lack of technology, the referees didn’t get a clear view of the play and the goal was awarded to Argentina as they went on to win the match 2-1 with both goals scored by Maradona. His second goal in the match is regarded as the “Goal of the Century”. After the match against England, Maradona conceded that the goal was scored "a little with his head, and a little with the hand of God".

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rip-diego-maradona-footballing-world-pay-tribute-to-former-argentine-345378" hreflang="en">'RIP Diego Maradona': Footballing world pay tribute to former Argentine</a>

With the match between England and Argentina tied at 0-0 at the end of first half, Maradona lit up the stage in the second half. Six minutes into the second half of the match, Maradona passed the ball to his teammate Jorge Valdano as the latter tried to dribble past the English defenders. However, the ball was cleared towards the England goal by defender Steve Hodge.

Maradona pounced on the chance but struggled to get the ball against goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Both Maradona and Shilton jumped but the Argentine used his left arm to get the ball and rattle the net to give Argentina the much-needed lead. While English players complained to the referees, Maradona and his Argentine teammates celebrated in joy as the goal stood.

<h2>WATCH VIDEO: Diego Maradona's iconic 'Hand of God' moment from 1986 FIFA World Cup</h2>

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Rest in peace Hand of God 
RIP Legend Argentine Legend 
Rest in Perfect Peace Maradona. <a href="https://t.co/97VAmT3UyA">pic.twitter.com/97VAmT3UyA</a>
— Skillz ➆ (@plugmanskillz) <a href="https://twitter.com/plugmanskillz/status/1331647914897190912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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On 22 June 1986 Diego Maradona scored one of the greatest World Cup goals during a 2-1 victory by Argentina over England in the Quarter Final. This goal came after his infamous “Hand of God” goal in the same game. <a href="https://t.co/U3F5sb3Hfa">pic.twitter.com/U3F5sb3Hfa</a>
— Prof Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) <a href="https://twitter.com/FXMC1957/status/1331642688731541511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-legend-diego-maradona-60-dies-of-heart-attack-345375" hreflang="en">Football legend Diego Maradona, 60, dies of heart attack</a>

In 2005, Maradona confessed on a program La Noche del 10, that the goal was actually scored with his hand. 
Albeit, the goal stands as one of the most iconic and controversial moments in world football – one that gave Argentina their only World Cup triumph so far.

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona on Wednesday passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest in his house in Argentina. Maradona lived his life to the fullest after achieving trophies and accolades in both club and international football.

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona on Wednesday passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest in his house in Argentina. Maradona lived his life to the fullest after achieving trophies and accolades in both club and international football. Maradona’s most iconic moment was arguably his infamous ‘Hand of God’ moment during Argentina versus England match in the 1986 FIFA World Cup at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. According to rules, Maradona should have received a yellow card for clear handball but due to lack of technology, the referees didn’t get a clear view of the play and the goal was awarded to Argentina as they went on to win the match 2-1 with both goals scored by Maradona. His second goal in the match is regarded as the “Goal of the Century”. After the match against England, Maradona conceded that the goal was scored "a little with his head, and a little with the hand of God". ALSO READ: 'RIP Diego Maradona': Footballing world pay tribute to former Argentine With the match between England and Argentina tied at 0-0 at the end of first half, Maradona lit up the stage in the second half. Six minutes into the second half of the match, Maradona passed the ball to his teammate Jorge Valdano as the latter tried to dribble past the English defenders. However, the ball was cleared towards the England goal by defender Steve Hodge. Maradona pounced on the chance but struggled to get the ball against goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Both Maradona and Shilton jumped but the Argentine used his left arm to get the ball and rattle the net to give Argentina the much-needed lead. While English players complained to the referees, Maradona and his Argentine teammates celebrated in joy as the goal stood. WATCH VIDEO: Diego Maradona's iconic 'Hand of God' moment from 1986 FIFA World Cup Rest in peace Hand of God RIP Legend Argentine Legend Rest in Perfect Peace Maradona. pic.twitter.com/97VAmT3UyA — Skillz ➆ (@plugmanskillz) November 25, 2020 × On 22 June 1986 Diego Maradona scored one of the greatest World Cup goals during a 2-1 victory by Argentina over England in the Quarter Final. This goal came after his infamous “Hand of God” goal in the same game. pic.twitter.com/U3F5sb3Hfa — Prof Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) November 25, 2020 × ALSO READ: Football legend Diego Maradona, 60, dies of heart attack In 2005, Maradona confessed on a program La Noche del 10, that the goal was actually scored with his hand. Albeit, the goal stands as one of the most iconic and controversial moments in world football – one that gave Argentina their only World Cup triumph so far.

RIP Maradona: Relive the iconic 'Hand of God' moment from 1986 World Cup - watch video

Few players mastered the spectacular quite like Diego Maradona. From stunning free-kicks to winding dribbles, the Argentine, who has died at the age of 60, scored some of the most famous -- and thrilling -- goals in football history.

Here AFP Sport picks five of the best from arguably the greatest footballer to ever play the game:

<h2>The 'Goal of the Century'</h2>

The solo goal against which all solo goals will be judged. Named the "Goal of the Century" by FIFA in 2002, his high-speed slalom in Mexico in 1986 ended England's World Cup and cemented Maradona's position as the world's best footballer.

The goal trumps others of its type not just because of its impact, the stage, the spectre of the Falklands War and the fact that it came just minutes after his notorious 'Hand of God' goal, but for the efficiency of its execution.

Maradona barely deviates from his path towards goal the moment he spins free in midfield, with a few drops of the shoulder enough to embarrass England for the second time in the space of five minutes.

"Diego assures me that he meant to pass to me several times but there was always some obstacle that forced him to change plans. Just as well," striker Jorge Valdano, who followed Maradona up the field, said later.

"But let's not deceive ourselves, I am convinced that Diego was never going to release that ball. Throughout those 10 seconds and 10 touches, he changed his mind hundreds of times because that's how the mind of genius in action works."

<h2>The 'Divine free-kick' that conquered Naples</h2>

Nicknamed the "divine free-kick" in Italy, Maradona's iconic winning goal for Napoli in the November 1985 home clash with Michel Platini's Juventus -- reigning European champions --&nbsp;was the one that created the Argentine's legend in Naples.

Standing over an indirect free-kick well inside the penalty area, legend has it that Maradona asked midfielder Eraldo Pecci to roll him the ball for a shot despite the closeness of the Juventus wall.

With Napoli players furious at their Juve counterparts for not stepping further back, Maradona simply said: "Don't worry, I'll score anyway".

A quick touch from Pecci was all he needed to flick a stupendous effort over a group of Juve players who were practically on his toes as he hit the ball and past a bamboozled Stefano Tacconi in the Juve goal.

"With this goal," he wrote in 2017, "I conquered the hearts of Neapolitans."

<h2>'El Pibe' volleys Verona&nbsp;</h2>

There were more crucial goals among Maradona's 115 for Napoli, but few matched the sheer nonchalance of his outrageous lob in a 5-0 hammering of reigning Serie A champions Hellas Verona in October 1985.

Collecting a long pass with his back to goal on the left flank, Maradona span round and saw future teammate Giuliano Giuliani positioned just too far to the left, only a few yards off his line.

Quick as a flash, and with the ball still bouncing, Maradona took a step and clipped a looping shot towards goal that gently faded off the left post as Giuliani realised -- too late -- that he was about to be humiliated.

<h2>Bamboozled Belgium beaten</h2>

His world-beating effort against England is rightly the goal everyone remembers, but his second of another double against Belgium in the semi-finals of the same World Cup in 1986 was almost as good.

Picking the ball up on the edge of midfield in the 63rd minute having already put Argentina a goal ahead, he quickly advanced and sent three Belgium defenders packing with one shimmy which allowed him to charge into the penalty area.

Having now isolated flat-footed right back Eric Gerets, he drags ball and defender to the left before cutting his shot back across goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff, who can only sit on his backside as a fierce drive flashes past him and puts Maradona to within touching distance of World Cup glory.

<h2>Derby destruction</h2>

A lifelong Boca Juniors fan, Maradona spent barely a year and a half at his boyhood club before departing for Europe, but&nbsp;he quickly won the hearts of the supporters of the Buenos Aires giants with his prodigious attacking play.

In November 1981 Maradona lit up River Plate's Monumental stadium with the sort of vision that took him to the very top of the game, somehow scoring from a tight angle on the left flank with nothing on and barely any gap in which to squeeze the ball.

The shot both floated and flew past a bewildered River and Argentina stopper Ubaldo Fillol, who in a foreshadowing of Giuliani's desperation for Verona, raced in vain towards his near post but was beaten before he had even moved.

Few players mastered the spectacular quite like Diego Maradona. From stunning free-kicks to winding dribbles, the Argentine, who has died at the age of 60, scored some of the most famous -- and thrilling -- goals in football history.

Few players mastered the spectacular quite like Diego Maradona. From stunning free-kicks to winding dribbles, the Argentine, who has died at the age of 60, scored some of the most famous -- and thrilling -- goals in football history. Here AFP Sport picks five of the best from arguably the greatest footballer to ever play the game: The 'Goal of the Century' The solo goal against which all solo goals will be judged. Named the "Goal of the Century" by FIFA in 2002, his high-speed slalom in Mexico in 1986 ended England's World Cup and cemented Maradona's position as the world's best footballer. The goal trumps others of its type not just because of its impact, the stage, the spectre of the Falklands War and the fact that it came just minutes after his notorious 'Hand of God' goal, but for the efficiency of its execution. Maradona barely deviates from his path towards goal the moment he spins free in midfield, with a few drops of the shoulder enough to embarrass England for the second time in the space of five minutes. "Diego assures me that he meant to pass to me several times but there was always some obstacle that forced him to change plans. Just as well," striker Jorge Valdano, who followed Maradona up the field, said later. "But let's not deceive ourselves, I am convinced that Diego was never going to release that ball. Throughout those 10 seconds and 10 touches, he changed his mind hundreds of times because that's how the mind of genius in action works." The 'Divine free-kick' that conquered Naples Nicknamed the "divine free-kick" in Italy, Maradona's iconic winning goal for Napoli in the November 1985 home clash with Michel Platini's Juventus -- reigning European champions -- was the one that created the Argentine's legend in Naples. Standing over an indirect free-kick well inside the penalty area, legend has it that Maradona asked midfielder Eraldo Pecci to roll him the ball for a shot despite the closeness of the Juventus wall. With Napoli players furious at their Juve counterparts for not stepping further back, Maradona simply said: "Don't worry, I'll score anyway". A quick touch from Pecci was all he needed to flick a stupendous effort over a group of Juve players who were practically on his toes as he hit the ball and past a bamboozled Stefano Tacconi in the Juve goal. "With this goal," he wrote in 2017, "I conquered the hearts of Neapolitans." 'El Pibe' volleys Verona There were more crucial goals among Maradona's 115 for Napoli, but few matched the sheer nonchalance of his outrageous lob in a 5-0 hammering of reigning Serie A champions Hellas Verona in October 1985. Collecting a long pass with his back to goal on the left flank, Maradona span round and saw future teammate Giuliano Giuliani positioned just too far to the left, only a few yards off his line. Quick as a flash, and with the ball still bouncing, Maradona took a step and clipped a looping shot towards goal that gently faded off the left post as Giuliani realised -- too late -- that he was about to be humiliated. Bamboozled Belgium beaten His world-beating effort against England is rightly the goal everyone remembers, but his second of another double against Belgium in the semi-finals of the same World Cup in 1986 was almost as good. Picking the ball up on the edge of midfield in the 63rd minute having already put Argentina a goal ahead, he quickly advanced and sent three Belgium defenders packing with one shimmy which allowed him to charge into the penalty area. Having now isolated flat-footed right back Eric Gerets, he drags ball and defender to the left before cutting his shot back across goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff, who can only sit on his backside as a fierce drive flashes past him and puts Maradona to within touching distance of World Cup glory. Derby destruction A lifelong Boca Juniors fan, Maradona spent barely a year and a half at his boyhood club before departing for Europe, but he quickly won the hearts of the supporters of the Buenos Aires giants with his prodigious attacking play. In November 1981 Maradona lit up River Plate's Monumental stadium with the sort of vision that took him to the very top of the game, somehow scoring from a tight angle on the left flank with nothing on and barely any gap in which to squeeze the ball. The shot both floated and flew past a bewildered River and Argentina stopper Ubaldo Fillol, who in a foreshadowing of Giuliani's desperation for Verona, raced in vain towards his near post but was beaten before he had even moved.

Diego Maradona - Five of his greatest goals

Up to 4,000 spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor elite sports events in the lowest-risk tier one areas of England when a month-long national lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 is lifted on Dec. 2, the British government said on Monday.

As part of new COVID-19 restrictions, 2,000 fans or 50% of a stadium’s capacity - whichever is lower - can attend sporting events in tier two areas but none can do so in tier three areas, Britain’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said in a statement.

English Premier League matches have continued behind closed doors during the second lockdown announced on Nov. 1. Supporters have not been allowed into sporting venues since the first lockdown was announced in March, barring a few exceptions.

“I can confirm the national restrictions will end on Dec. 2 ... People can leave their home, subject to the rule of six,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement to the House of Commons.

“Wedding services, outdoor sports can resume. Leisure can resume. Sports will be able to resume inside in tier one and two with measures on social distancing.

“Enforcement will be strengthened with new powers to close down premises that pose a risk to public health.”

Members of Parliament are set to cast a vote on plans before they are confirmed and the government will announce on Thursday which areas will go into which tier.

<h2>GRASSROOTS SPORT</h2>

Indoor sport and physical activity will also resume but with some restrictions on activities due to the higher transmission risk of the novel coronavirus.

Gassroots sport will resume from Dec. 2 and gyms and leisure centres will be able to reopen across all tiers.

“This is a big step forward for sport. Bringing grassroots sport back was my number one priority,” Dowden said.

“I’m confident sports will take every step to ensure their fans are safe, and fans will play their part and look out for each other until we can safely get everyone back in.”

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“Our ambition remains to work with Government to increase attendance to more substantial levels. Until this can be done, many fans will be unable to attend games and our clubs will continue to operate matches at a financial loss.” it said.

“Our priority continues to be the agreement of a roadmap, with DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media &amp; Sport) and the Sports Technology and Innovation Group, for pilot events that can help our clubs quickly scale up to larger capacities in line with the Sports Ground Safety Authority’s COVID-secure guidelines and beyond.

“Premier League clubs have a proven track record of achieving high-biosecurity standards and we believe we can play a significant role in the Government’s rapid turnaround testing initiative,” it added.

The Football League (EFL), which organises football in the Championship and lower two divisions, was also encouraged.

“Whilst today’s news is subject to regional restrictions, it is an important step in achieving a return to normal, alongside it being crucial to addressing the significant revenue gap left by a lack of spectators and other revenue streams as a result of the pandemic,” the league said.

Up to 4,000 spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor elite sports events in the lowest-risk tier one areas of England when a month-long national lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 is lifted on Dec.

Up to 4,000 spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor elite sports events in the lowest-risk tier one areas of England when a month-long national lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 is lifted on Dec. 2, the British government said on Monday. As part of new COVID-19 restrictions, 2,000 fans or 50% of a stadium’s capacity - whichever is lower - can attend sporting events in tier two areas but none can do so in tier three areas, Britain’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said in a statement. English Premier League matches have continued behind closed doors during the second lockdown announced on Nov. 1. Supporters have not been allowed into sporting venues since the first lockdown was announced in March, barring a few exceptions. “I can confirm the national restrictions will end on Dec. 2 ... People can leave their home, subject to the rule of six,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement to the House of Commons. “Wedding services, outdoor sports can resume. Leisure can resume. Sports will be able to resume inside in tier one and two with measures on social distancing. “Enforcement will be strengthened with new powers to close down premises that pose a risk to public health.” Members of Parliament are set to cast a vote on plans before they are confirmed and the government will announce on Thursday which areas will go into which tier. GRASSROOTS SPORT Indoor sport and physical activity will also resume but with some restrictions on activities due to the higher transmission risk of the novel coronavirus. Gassroots sport will resume from Dec. 2 and gyms and leisure centres will be able to reopen across all tiers. “This is a big step forward for sport. Bringing grassroots sport back was my number one priority,” Dowden said. “I’m confident sports will take every step to ensure their fans are safe, and fans will play their part and look out for each other until we can safely get everyone back in.” The Premier League welcomed the move but said it hoped to quickly move to bigger capacities. “Our ambition remains to work with Government to increase attendance to more substantial levels. Until this can be done, many fans will be unable to attend games and our clubs will continue to operate matches at a financial loss.” it said. “Our priority continues to be the agreement of a roadmap, with DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) and the Sports Technology and Innovation Group, for pilot events that can help our clubs quickly scale up to larger capacities in line with the Sports Ground Safety Authority’s COVID-secure guidelines and beyond. “Premier League clubs have a proven track record of achieving high-biosecurity standards and we believe we can play a significant role in the Government’s rapid turnaround testing initiative,” it added. The Football League (EFL), which organises football in the Championship and lower two divisions, was also encouraged. “Whilst today’s news is subject to regional restrictions, it is an important step in achieving a return to normal, alongside it being crucial to addressing the significant revenue gap left by a lack of spectators and other revenue streams as a result of the pandemic,” the league said.

England to allow 4,000 fans at elite events in lowest-risk areas

Eight new positive coronavirus cases have been found in the latest round of testing conducted by Premier League, England`s top-tier football tournament. 
 
In a statement, Premier League said on Monday that 1,530 players and club staff were tested from November 16 to 22 in the latest round. 
 
"The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday November 16 and Sunday November 22, 1,530 players and club staff were tested for Covid-19. Of these, there were eight new positive tests," the league said on Monday. 
 
The players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days. 
 
A total of 76 confirmed Covid-19 cases have been detected till now in 12 rounds of testing conducted by Premier League since August. 
 
&nbsp;

Eight new positive coronavirus cases have been found in the latest round of testing conducted by Premier League, England`s top-tier football tournament. In a statement, Premier League said on Monday that 1,530 players and club staff were tested from November 16 to 22 in the latest round.

Eight new positive coronavirus cases have been found in the latest round of testing conducted by Premier League, England`s top-tier football tournament. In a statement, Premier League said on Monday that 1,530 players and club staff were tested from November 16 to 22 in the latest round. "The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday November 16 and Sunday November 22, 1,530 players and club staff were tested for Covid-19. Of these, there were eight new positive tests," the league said on Monday. The players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days. A total of 76 confirmed Covid-19 cases have been detected till now in 12 rounds of testing conducted by Premier League since August.

Eight new Covid-19 cases found in latest round of testing: Premier League

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