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A hearse with the coffin covered with the flag of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona rolled through downtown Buenos Aires as thousands of fans said goodbye to him.
Amid blaring sirens and surrounded by motorcycle police escorts, the funeral procession swiftly marched through the streets around the presidential palace.
Thousands of fans had paraded in front of Maradona’s coffin at the palace since early in the morning.
The 60-year-old, who led his country to World Cup glory in 1986, died yesterday after a heart attack.
The lying state had spread to deal with the crowds surrounding the palace.
However, it was interrupted by family and officials after rebellious fanatics seized an inner courtyard of the presidency.
Police then clashed with fans downtown as the event threatened to escalate into chaos.
The procession avoided the main avenue 9 de Julio where many fans had gathered.
Instead, he sped onto a highway leading out of the capital, followed by dozens of photographers and videographers on motorcycles.
Maradona will be buried in the Jardín de Paz cemetery on the outskirts of the Argentine capital after a private family ceremony.
On the other hand, the Napoli players honored the club’s legend, Maradona, by taking to the pitch wearing his number 10 jersey before the Europa League match with Rijeka.
Captain Lorenzo Insigne had led the tributes alongside fans gathered outside the San Paolo stadium before the game, Napoli’s first since Maradona’s death.
All wearing black armbands, the team also wore Maradona’s iconic jersey during the team presentation and minute of silence, under a photo projected on a big screen of the man who led Napoli to league titles in 1987 and 1990 and to the Cup from UEFA in 1989.
Throughout the day, the fans crowded in front of the San Paolo stadium, which could soon be renamed in honor of Maradona.
“I think it is correct to baptize San Paolo with your name to have you still with us,” wrote the club’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, on the club’s website.
At the gates of the stadium a plaque was placed that said “Estadio Diego Armando Maradona” and that showed the face of the Argentine hero of the fans.
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