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PARIS: In the first weekend of sports action since Diego Maradona’s death, sports, leagues and teams from around the world on Saturday (November 28) paid tribute to the great Argentine footballer.
Those who knew or played with or against Maradona, who died at age 60 on Wednesday, added poignant excitement to the commemorations that are often held in stadiums without fans.
In Valencia, former Argentina and Seville teammate Diego Simeone applauded during the minute of silence before his Atlético de Madrid team won at the empty Mestalla.
In Liverpool, Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, who faced Maradona in Serie A, burst into tears as the players applauded. Even without fans spoiling the silence, the Premier League has opted for a minute of applause.
“He was my opponent and he became my friend,” Ancelotti said on Friday.
Saturday’s tributes began at a rugby field in Newcastle, Australia, where New Zealand rugby captain Sam Cane placed an All Blacks jersey emblazoned with Maradona’s name and jersey number, 10, on the center circle before the start of the International Three Nations match. against Argentina.
The All Blacks then thrashed the Pumas.
“I think he is a legend for everyone, but in Argentina he was almost a god,” Puma coach Mario Ledesma said.
In Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the Netherlands there was a minute’s silence before kick-off.
In Italy, where players wore black armbands, an image of Maradona appeared on the giant screens during the minute of silence before kick-off.
When his image appeared again on stadium screens in the 10th minute, Serie A games came to a halt as players stood up and clapped for 60 seconds.
In England, Sergio Agüero was not involved with Manchester City in the 5-0 win at Burnley, but Pep Guardiola confirmed it was due to a minor injury problem rather than the Argentine forward’s close family relationship with Maradona.
Agüero was married and had a son with Maradona’s daughter, Gianinna.
Agüero posted a video of that tribute on Twitter with heart emojis and praying hands.
In 1986 Maradona scored two goals to eliminate England in the World Cup. The first goal is known as the “Hand of God” and the second was the FIFA Goal of the Century.
During the applause of the minute in Manchester, City played Maradona’s second goal against England in Mexico on the big screens. On Friday the BBC broadcast the entire match.
“GOODBYE”
In France, players came out to a recording of Maradona singing “The Hand of God” from Emir Kusturica’s biopic about the player. The French league also invited players to form the letter “M” in the center circle during the minute of silence.
Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux players explained Maradona’s M at Parc des Princes AFP / FRANCK FIFE
Maradona produced a rare moment of harmony between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille when both clubs hung up banners reading “Goodbye.”
At the Parc des Princes, the Argentine ambassador to France, Leonardo Constantino, unfurled the national flag from the roof of the stadium.
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman had said the best tribute “was to” show what we can do on the pitch “, and after Marseille’s Argentine forward Dario Benedetto scored his first goal of the season in the victory over Nantes, he celebrated by raising all ten fingers.
In Huesca, the Sevillian team took to the field with reproduction jerseys of the season that Maradona played with the club, all with his number 10 for the commemorative minute as tango, he played “My beloved Buenos Aires.”
Maradona’s other Spanish club, Barcelona, does not play until Sunday, but in his press conference on Saturday, Koeman, who once faced Maradona, during the Argentine’s season in Seville, said he was proud of ” get a chance to play against him. “
