But in time to take a look at the coffin at the country’s presidential palace, police cut the back rooms of the crowd, inflighting enthusiasts who threw stones and other objects at officers, who responded with rubber bullets.
Crowds hit the organizers and the violence resulted in injuries and arrests, which led Maradona’s family circle to end the public visit. The coffin placed in a car carrying the former football player’s call in a cardboard box near the window.
Desperate to say goodbye, Maradona enthusiasts climbed the fences of the presidential mansion as if they were in a football stadium, while firefighters worked to leave the field blank.
“Diego is not dead, Diego lives in the other people,” other people chanted as the coffin taken to an outdoor cemetery in Buenos Aires. The procession, accompanied by police, followed a local road through dozens of cars and motorbikes honking the horn. Horns.
Maradona died wednesday of an attack on the center in a space near Buenos Aires where he was recovering from brain surgery on November 3.
While the view had the characteristics of a state funeral, with Maradona’s coffin arranged in the presidential palace, the atmosphere was that of a football stadium: singing, singing, pushing and sometimes smelling of alcohol.
Fans cried and kissed as they walked past the coffin, some banged their chests with their fists clenched and shouted, “Come on, Diego. “
He wore the Argentine flag and shirts with his outstanding number 10 of the national team and the Boca Juniors club, with other shirts thrown around him by passing admirers.
The free stopover began at 6:15 a. m. after a few hours of privacy for the circle of close family and friends, the first to say goodbye were his daughters and close members of the family circle, his ex-wife, Claudia Villafae, arrived. with the daughters of Maradona, Dalma and Gianinna. Veranica Ojeda later arrived, also exmujer, with her son Dieguito Fernando.
Also present is Jana Maradona, whom the player identified as his daughter only a few years ago.
Then came former teammates from the 1986 World Cup-winning team, Oscar Ruggeri, and other Argentine footballers, such as Carlos Tévez de Boca Juniors, also performed.
Early in the morning, some enthusiasts became impatient when police tried to maintain order and began throwing bottles and pieces of steel fences at officials outside the presidential offices in central Buenos Aires. At one point, police used tear fuel to control them.
President Alberto Fernández gave the impression at noon and placed in the coffin a shirt of the Argentinos Juniors team, where Maradona began his career in 1976.
In tears, Fernández also placed two headscarves of the human rights organization Madre de la Plaza de Mayo, which used them for years to protest the disappearance of his young people under the dictatorship of the Argentine army between 1976 and 1983. of The Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara tattooed on a biceps, a friend of the Mothers and other rights groups.
The rows began to take form outdoors of Casa Rosada a few hours after maradona’s death confirmation and reached several blocks.
A huge fresco depicting Maradona’a’a’s face painted on the tiles covering the Plaza de Mayo, near casa Rosada, which is decorated with a giant black ribbon at the entrance.
The first amateur to make a stopover was Nahuel de Lima, 30, with crutches to move around for a disability.
“It has made Argentina identify around the world, which speaks of Maradona also talks about Argentina,” he told The Associated Press from Lima. “Diego is the people . . . Today, T-shirts and political flags don’t matter. to say goodbye to a wonderful one that gave us much joy.
Maradona’s soccer genius, non-public struggles, and transparent non-publicity resonated deeply with Argentines.
He led a team oppressed to the glory of the 1986 World Cup, earning the name after scoring two amazing goals in the semi-final against England, thrilling a country that felt humiliated by its defeat to the British in the recent Falklands War and still recovering from the brutal dictatorship of the army.
The insults from the football stands choreographed among the funeral crowd echoed this nationalist pride: “He who does not jump is English”, “Brazilian, Brazilian, you are so bitter, Maradona is bigger than Pelé”.
Many Argentines have been deeply sympathetic to the struggles of a guy who went from poverty to fame and wealth and fell into drug, drink and food abuse. The so-called “Golden Pibe” or “Golden” was idolized in the football-mad country. Boy. “
Many enthusiasts proudly displayed Maradona’s tattoos; others, aware of Maradona’s tense relationship with the press, insulted journalists.
Lidia and Estela Villalba cried near the exit of the hall. Both had a Boca Juniors jersey and an Argentine flag on their shoulders.
“We told him we enjoyed it, which is the biggest,” they said at the same time.
Many of those who covered up to enter Casa Rosada wore masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but struggled to maintain their social distance.
Social Rosa Noem-Monje, 63, said she and other fitness protocol officials understood the excitement of the moment.
“It’s to ask you to stay away. We behave with respect and are offering them disinfectant and masks,” he said. Monk also presented his last respects to Maradona.
“I said, “To victory always, Diego, ” cried Monk.
——— Associated Press Mauricio Savarese in Sao Paulo, Brazil, contributed to the report.
Policy 24/7 of the latest news and events.