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Diego Maradona’s funeral sparked violent clashes in Argentina, after thousands of soccer fans were unable to glimpse their hero’s coffin.
Tens of thousands of people managed to pay their respects to Maradona on Thursday when his body lay in the state in the capital of Buenos Aires, before the hearing was interrupted at 6 p.m. local time by the family, who wanted their body to bury.
The football icon, which intervened for a subdural hematoma a few weeks ago, died of a heart attack 60-year-old at home on Wednesday.
Diego Maradona’s funeral takes place in Buenos Aires. Photo: Argentine Presidency
Dozens of vehicles followed Maradona’s coffin to the cemetery
Fans had gathered across the city, adorned with flags and stripes and singing soccer songs, hoping to pay their respects to Maradona.
However, people in the capital had grown impatient at not being able to see the coffin and threw bottles, bricks and metal fences at riot police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
As a result of the injuries and arrests, the organizers chose to interrupt the public view and the coffin was driven to a cemetery outside the capital, followed by hundreds of vehicles.
Only close family and friends attended the ceremony, and the soccer legend was buried next to the graves of his parents, Dalma and Diego.
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Tens of thousands of streets for Maradona’s coffin
Fans had been waiting for hours to see the coffin during public viewing hours, which began at 6.15 a.m. after the family’s private service.
Family members, including his ex-wives and daughters, paid their respects to Maradona early Thursday, and his teammates from the 1986 World Cup winning team also visited him.
Fans were scaling the fence outside the presidential mansion
Riot police faced impatient fans
Other footballers from across Argentina also paid their respects, including former Manchester United player Carlos Tevez.
President Alberto Fernández placed an Argentinos Juniors jersey on the coffin, the team where Maradona began his career.
The first citizen to see the coffin was Nahuel de Lima, 30, who said: “He made Argentina recognized throughout the world, whoever talks about Maradona also talks about Argentina.
“Diego is the people … Today the shirts, the political flags do not matter. We came to say goodbye to a great one who gave us great joy.”
