Farewell to Maradona: tears, shirts and tumult

In Buenos Aires, tens of thousands of people greeted the Argentine football icon Maradona. Long lines formed in front of the coffin, many of them had shirts and photos. From time to time there were riots in the crowd.

Tens of thousands of fans paid their latest tributes to their football idol Diego Maradona at the Casa Rosada presidential residence in Buenos Aires. The soccer star, revered as a national hero in Argentina, died Wednesday at the age of 60.

Many people had waited that night in the Plaza de Mayo, in the center of the capital, to greet the “hand of God”. Long lines formed before the presidential palace opened. Early in the morning, the atrium of the presidential seat with Maradona’s coffin was opened for the funeral. In the hours before the farewell had been reserved for Maradona’s family and friends.

Up to one million mourners expected

The government expects up to one million mourners. Head of state Alberto Fernández has ordered a three-day state mourning. The plan to leave Maradona’s coffin for so long was abandoned at the request of his family. According to his spokesman Sebastián Sanchi, Maradona will be buried in the Bellavista community cemetery in northwest Buenos Aires – the weather is apparently still uncertain.

Ahead of the crown pandemic, authorities have urged people to observe protective measures while awake.

Long waiting times in front of the presidential palace

Emotional outbursts were more frequent upon awakening: Fans walking past the coffin wrapped in the Argentine national flag beat their fists on the chest, gave air kisses and shouted “Come on, Diego!” On the coffin was also a jersey of the Argentine national team with the number 10 – the mourners threw dozens of shirts from other teams into the room. Many collapsed in pain as they left the building.

There were also isolated discussions: some fans attacked police officers who protected the presidential seat because things were not going fast enough. Sometimes there was a crowd at the entrance. Police officers used tear gas. Other security guards checked access to the building and made sure fans didn’t take pictures.

The lawyer asks for an investigation into the circumstances of the death

The life of the former world champion was marked by ups and downs and addiction to drugs and alcohol following his football career. Maradona has repeatedly struggled with health problems. He suffered two heart attacks, developed hepatitis, and underwent gastric bypass surgery because he was overweight. The last time he had a blood clot removed from his brain in early November.

After some problems with “withdrawal symptoms,” as his doctor said, he was discharged from the clinic and was recovering in his home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires when his heart failed. According to the first results of an autopsy, Maradona died of “acute pulmonary edema and exacerbated chronic heart failure,” as announced by prosecutor John Broyard.

Maradona’s lawyer has meanwhile requested an investigation into the circumstances of his death. He couldn’t explain why “his friend’s condition was not checked for twelve hours” and why the ambulance eventually took more than half an hour to get to Maradona’s house, Matías Morla said.

Expressions of mourning around the world

In Buenos Aires, shortly after the news of his death, his fans flocked to the obelisk in the center of the capital and to the Bombonera, the Boca Juniors stadium. Messages of mourning came from all over the world for the striker, who at the time was considered the best footballer in the world.

“He is leaving us, but he is not leaving because Diego is eternal,” Lionel Messi, Maradona’s legitimate successor as a football hero, wrote on Instagram alongside a shared photo. “I have all the wonderful moments I remembered with him.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino also paid tribute to Maradona: “What Diego has done for football and to make us all fall in love with this beautiful game is unique,” he said.