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The Argentine footballer, who died at the age of 60, proudly expressed his support for Palestine on several occasions.
As the world mourns the death of legendary soccer player Diego Maradona, many people also pay tribute to his vocal support for the Palestinian cause.
The former Argentine player and world champion died this Wednesday of a heart attack at just 60 years old, after years of health problems.
His death occurred two weeks after being discharged from a hospital in Buenos Aires after brain surgery.
Maradona has been hailed as an anti-imperialist left-wing socialist, who has supported progressive movements.
Among his friends were the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, the late Cuban President Fidel Castro, and the Bolivian Evo Morales.
He was seen on more than one occasion accompanying Chávez, wearing an anti-George Bush shirt.
He unapologetically supported Palestine, even after hanging up his football boots.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri tweeted his condolences to Maradona’s family and fans around the world.
“We are very saddened by the death of one of the greatest footballers, ‘Maradona’, who is known for his support of the #Palestina cause,” he wrote.
We are very saddened by the death of one of the greatest footballers, “Maradona”, who is known for his support of the #Palestine why.
Our condolences to his family and his lovers around the world.#Maradona pic.twitter.com/BHDs7ajkwg– DR. SAMI ABU ZUHRI (@SamiZuhri) November 26, 2020
In 2012, Maradona described himself as “the number one fan of the Palestinian people.”
“I respect and sympathize with them,” he said. “I support Palestine without any fear.”
Two years later, during Israel’s summer offensive in the besieged Gaza Strip that killed at least 3,000 Palestinians, Maradona voiced his outrage and criticized Israel.
“What Israel is doing to the Palestinians is disgraceful,” he said in a statement.
“In my heart, I am Palestinian.”
RIP Diego Armando Maradona.
In our hearts we were all Argentines, imitating your dribbling and goals in the neighborhoods of Palestine. I am safe like other children around the world. pic.twitter.com/6NU3PNeL2r
– Salem Barahmeh (@Barahmeh) November 25, 2020
A year later, reports circulated that Maradona was in negotiations with the Palestinian Football Association about the possibility of coaching the Palestinian team during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
In July 2018, he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a short meeting in Moscow, again reiterating his long-standing support for the Palestinians.
“In my heart, I am Palestinian,” he told Abbas as he hugged him in a clip that was uploaded to his Instagram page.
#Maradona to Abbas “I am also Palestinian” 🤣🤣🤣#blades #World Cup #WorldCupFinal #FRACRO #FRE #CRO #Palestine pic.twitter.com/TflI0G0W88
– 👽 (@ Blaugrana_86) Jul 15, 2018
That same year, Maradona voiced his views on the role of the United States in Syria, which was in its seventh year of civil war when President Bashar al-Assad consolidated his control over most of the country.
“You don’t have to go to college to know that the United States wants to end Syria,” he said.
Maradona: “You don’t have to go to university to know that the United States wants to end Syria.”
The phrase # r4today they are omitting in your obituary this morning.pic.twitter.com/fHHpYUK2WH
– James James (@ Tingaling007) November 26, 2020
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