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Spanish soccer player Paula Dapena said Monday she received death threats after refusing to participate in a minute of silence by Diego Maradona in protest against domestic violence.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – Serie A – Napoli v AS Roma – Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy – November 29, 2020 General view of the tributes left for Diego Maradona outside the stadium before the match REUTERS / Ciro De Luca
MADRID (AP) – Spanish soccer player Paula Dapena said Monday she received death threats after she refused to participate in a minute of silence for Diego Maradona in protest against domestic violence.
The Viajes Interrias FF midfielder sat down and faced off as teammates and opponents Deportivo Abanca paid tribute to the Argentine star on Saturday, three days after Maradona’s death.
The 24-year-old told the radio program A Diario that she has no regrets and that she would do it again. “I am not willing to give a minute of silence to a domestic abuser and not to the victims,” she said.
Maradona faced allegations of domestic violence after he was caught on video in 2014 arguing with his then-girlfriend and apparently beating her.
He denied the allegations, saying, “I picked up the phone but I swear to God I’ve never hit a woman.” No charges were filed.
Dapena said she had received many expressions of support “but I have also received death threats, and also some of my teammates.”
“We were giving a minute of silence to someone who committed domestic violence,” he said.
“For me, that is something that my feminist ideals cannot allow: a tribute to Maradona … For me he was an incredible player, but as a person he left much to be desired.”
Maradona, considered one of the best footballers of all time before drug and alcohol addiction marred his career, died on Wednesday, the same day as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
(Reporting by Joseph Walker; Edited by Andrew Heavens)
